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TOKENIZATION IN THE REAL ESTATE SECTOR: AN ANALYSIS OF INDIA AND UAE

ChatGPT Image Jul 20, 2025, 09_26_46 PM
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Gopika Kalidas, Author

Gopika Kalidas, a distinguished graduate from Alliance Law School, Alliance University, Bangalore. Read More


Introduction

The Real estate sector is one of the most stable and lucrative investment areas. However, barriers such as high entry costs, limited liquidity and geographic restrictions have made it difficult for an average investor to participate. Real estate tokenization, the process of converting property ownership into digital tokens on a blockchain, is revolutionizing the global property market by enhancing liquidity, accessibility and transparency. In simple words tokenization enables fractional ownership of property through digital tokens that are secured, transparent and tradable on a blockchain.

In rapidly growing economies like India and the United Arab Emirates (UAE), tokenization is gaining traction as a solution to traditional real estate challenges, such as high entry barriers, illiquidity and opaque transactions.  While both countries share ambitious to leverage blockchain technology, their approaches differ due to distinct economic, regulatory and cultural contexts. This article provides an in-depth analysis of the tokenization in real estate touching on fundamental concepts, technical mechanisms, regulatory framework, benefits, challenges and future potential along with an overview of tokenization in India and the UAE.

Key Concepts and Terms

Before diving deeper it’s important to understand a few foundational terms:

Understanding Real Estate Tokenization

  1. What is Tokenization?

Tokenization is the process of converting rights to a real-world asset such as real estate into digital tokens that exist on a blockchain. So, tokenization involves representing ownership of a real estate asset as digital tokens on a blockchain[1]. Each token signifies a fractional share of a property’s value or rights, such as equity or rental income. These tokens can be bought, sold, or traded on a blockchain platforms, similar to stocks or cryptocurrencies. [2]

Tokenization in real estate involves dividing ownership or income rights to a property into smaller, tradable units, represented by tokens. These tokens can be bought and sold on digital platforms, allowing investors to own a share of a property without having to buy the entire asset. [3]

  1. What is Blockchain?

Blockchain is a decentralized, immutable digital ledger that records transactions securely across multiple computers. It eliminates intermediaries by using smart contracts, self-executing agreements that automate processes like transferring ownership or distributing dividends when conditions are met. [4]

  1. Why Tokenize Real Estate?

Traditional real estate markets face challenges like:

There issues are addressed by tokenization by enabling fractional ownership, instant trading, transparent records, and global access, making real estate more inclusive and efficient.

How Tokenization Works in Real Estate

  1. Asset Identification– A suitable property or portfolio of properties (residential, commercial or industrial) is chosen for tokenization. This also involved a determination of the market value, location, income potential and comparable sales along with legal and regulatory requirements are met.
  2. Valuation and Due Diligence– A valuation to determine the fair market value is conducted on the basis for determine the total number of tokens to be issued and their initial price. Comprehensive due diligence is conducted to ensure the property is free of encumbrances and that all legal and regulatory requirements are met.
  3. Tokenomics– This is the economics of the tokens, encompasses factors such as the total supply of tokens, the distribution mechanism, any potential for token burning or staking and the utility of the token within the ecosystem.
  4. Legal Structuring– The property is placed into a legal entity, a SPV, is created to hold the property to comply with regulations. This SPV issues tokens that represent ownership in the company and indirectly in the asset.
  5. Platform and Token Creation– Tokens are created on blockchain platform (Ethereum, Polygon or Solana) are created to represent ownership shares. Each token represents a fraction of the property’s value or rights adhering to specific technical standards.
  6. Compliance– The token issuance complies with securities regulations, including KYC/AML checks for investors.
  7. Smart Contract Development– Smart contracts are meticulously developed to encode the terms and conditions of ownership, income distribution, voting rights and process for potential future sales or liquidation of the property. These contracts are deployed onto chosen blockchain, where they autonomously execute according to their pre-defined rules.
  8. Security Token Offering (STO) or Initial Token Offering (ITO)– The tokens are offered to investors through a regulated process, often a STO where tokens are classified as securities under applicable laws. STOs involve compliance with securities regulations, including KYC and AML procedures and the provision of detailed information about property and the token offering. In certain cases, an ITO may be conducted, depending on the legal classification of the tokens.
  9. Trading Management and Exit– Once the ITO is completed the tokens may be listed on a secondary digital asset exchange, allowing investors to buy and sell their fractional ownership stakes. This secondary market trading is a key driver of liquidity is tokenized real estate. The investors can sell tokens on secondary markets or if the property is sold, receive a share of the proceeds proportional to their token holdings.

Token Standards

The Token Standards are a rules, protocols and specifications that delineate how digital tokens should behave with a blockchain environment.[5] Different blockchains offer various standards. Common ones include:

 Tokenization in India

  1. Current Scenario

India’s real estate sector is projected to reach $1 trillion by 2030, driven by urbanization, economic growth and government initiatives like Smart Cities Mission and Housing for All. Tokenization is emerging as a transformative tool to address the sector’s challenges, including opacity, high entry barriers and illiquidity. Platforms like alyf, hBits and RealX are pioneering fractional ownership and tokenization, attracting retail innovation. [6]

In 2024, Cyberwalk, a 1 million sq. ft. commercial property in Manesar, Gurugram, was tokenized on the DigiByte Blockchain by EGW Capital, offering investors annual rental income and price appreciation.

  1. Regulatory Frameworks

India’s regulatory landscape for tokenization is evolving but lacks dedicated legislation for real estate tokens (RETs):

Despite these initiatives, the absence of a clear legal definition for RETs hinders mainstream adoption. Indian regulators are looking to jurisdictions like the UAE, USA, and Switzerland for guidance.

  1. Case Studies

Tokenization in the UAE

  1. Current Scenario

The UAE, particularly Dubai, is a global leader in real estate tokenization, driven by its tech forward vision, robust regulatory frameworks, and dynamic property market. The UAE’s real estate sector contributes significantly to its economy, with Dubai’s market generating AED 411 billion ($111 billion) in sales in 2023. Tokenization is aligning with the Dubai Economic Agenda D33 and Dubai Real Estate Sector Strategy 2033 to enhance innovation and global investment.

The UAE’s tokenized real estate market is projected to reach $16 billion by 2033, representing 7% of Dubai’s total real estate transactions. The global market, valued at $2.7 billion in 2022, is expected to hit $3.894 trillion by 2029, with the UAE at the forefront. [10]

The Dubai Land Department (DLD) launched the Real Estate Tokenization Project in March 2025 under the Real Estate Evolution Space (REES) initiative, making DLD the first Middle Eastern entity to tokenize property title deeds.[11]

  1. Regulatory Frameworks

The UAE has a progressive regulatory environment for tokenization, fostering innovation while ensuring investor protection:

The UAE’s proactive regulations, inspired by jurisdictions like Switzerland and Luxembourg, position it as a global hub for tokenized real estate.

  1. Case Studies

The Benefits Tokenization in Real Estate  

Tokenization offers transformative advantages over traditional real estate investment:

Real-World Applications

The Challenges of Tokenization

While there is major potential there are also several hurdles being:

Regional Trends

Notable Examples

Conclusion

Real estate tokenization is a game changer, leveraging blockchain to make property investment more accessible, liquid, and transparent. By enabling fractional ownership, reducing costs, and opening global markets, it addresses longstanding challenges in the sector. Applications range from residential and commercial properties to specialized assets and tokenized funds, with a market projected to reach $3 to 16 trillion by 2030. While regulatory, technical, and adoption hurdles persist, the success of projects like the St. Regis Aspen and Dallas apartment complex demonstrates tokenization’s viability. As blockchain technology matures and regulations evolve, tokenization will likely become a cornerstone of real estate investment, reshaping the industry for decades to come.

In India, tokenization is in its early stages, with platforms like RealX and projects like Cyberwalk paving the way for retail investors. However, regulatory uncertainty and technical limitations hinder growth. In contrast, the UAE is a global leader, with government backed initiatives like DLD’s Real Estate Tokenization Project and mature platforms like SmartCrowd driving innovation. Its progressive regulations and robust infrastructure position it ahead of India, though both face challenges like cybersecurity and education needs.

Both nations share the potential to democratize real estate through fractional ownership and global access, yet the UAE’s advanced regulatory framework and infrastructure give it a head start. Overcoming challenges like cybersecurity, regulatory clarity, and stakeholder education will be critical for both to unlock tokenization’s full potential, fostering innovation and attracting diverse investors in this rapidly evolving sector.

BIBLIOGRAPHY

[1] Real Estate Tokenization: Legal Perspectives in Europe and the Middle East, https://thetechisland.org/blog/real-estate-tokenization-legal-perspectives-europe-and-middle-east.

[2] Asset Tokenization: Unlocking New Possibilities for the Enterprise, https://www.kaleido.io/blockchain-blog/guide-to-tokenization.

[3] Asset Tokenization: What It Is and How It Works, https://chain.link/education/asset-tokenization.

[4] What is blockchain?, https://www.ibm.com/think/topics/blockchain.

[5] Token Standards, https://academy.binance.com/en/glossary/token-standards.

[6] Asset Tokenisation in the Indian Real Estate Sector, https://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=3b05bb3b-8b83-4386-93b5-74bde3277399.

[7] Terazo and Tokeny Join Forces for India’s First Regulated Tokenization Project, https://tokeny.com/terazo-and-tokeny-join-forces-for-indias-first-regulated-tokenization-project/.

[8] Real Estate Tokenization, The Next Big Thing In India, https://www.openpr.com/news/2088565/real-estate-tokenization-the-next-big-thing-in-india.

[9] RealX Investment Token, https://realxtoken.finance/en.

[10] Dubai Launches Real Estate Tokenization Pilot: Projects $16 Billion Market, https://coincentral.com/dubai-launches-real-estate-tokenization-pilot-projects-16-billion-market/.

[11] UAE Witnesses US$3 Billion Real Estate Tokenization: Dubai’s Sandbox Model Draws Global Attention, https://www.middleeastbriefing.com/news/uae-witnesses-real-estate-tokenization-dubais-sandbox/.

[12] Dubai Land Department Launches Pilot Phase of the ‘Real Estate Tokenisation Project’, https://dubailand.gov.ae/en/news-media/dubai-land-department-launches-pilot-phase-of-the-real-estate-tokenisation-project#/.

[13] SmartCrowd, https://www.smartcrowd.ae/.

[14] Aspen Coin Case Study (Tokenization of Real Estate Part 2), https://medium.com/@hannah_pham/aspen-coin-case-study-tokenization-of-real-estate-continued-3d61870ab48f.

[15] “Hello World” from the Crypto Valley: first real estate transaction on blockchain, https://medium.com/blockimmo/hello-world-from-the-crypto-valley-first-real-estate-transaction-on-blockchain-2bf985b0ff3.

[16] Tokenized real estate: Gamechanger or fad?, https://swiftlane.com/newsletter-archive/tokenized-real-estate/.

[17] HarbourVest Partners Launches the HarbourVest Private Investment Fund, https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20250402447119/en/HarbourVest-Partners-Launches-the-HarbourVest-Private-Investment-Fund.


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