XRP RWA news: Dubai real estate tokenization project opens secondary trading with Ripple support

CoinDesk

by Krisztian Sandor

February 20, 2026

AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary

Dubai has taken a significant step toward advancing its real estate tokenization initiative by launching a secondary market for property-backed tokens. The Dubai Land Department (DLD) and Ctrl Alt, a leading tokenization firm, have introduced this platform as part of their broader $16 billion plan to tokenize 7% of Dubai’s real estate market by 2033. This move enables the resale of approximately $5 million in fractional property ownership through tokens tied to ten high-value properties. These tokens are now tradable on a regulated platform, with transactions recorded on the XRP Ledger blockchain and secured by Ripple Custody. The initiative marks the second phase of Dubai’s pilot program, focusing on testing market infrastructure, investor protections, and alignment with existing real estate laws. Tokens are paired with Asset-Referenced Virtual Assets (ARVAs), ensuring compliance and seamless integration with Dubai’s official property registry. This innovative approach streamlines ownership records and settlement processes, leveraging blockchain technology to enhance transparency and efficiency. Despite its potential, the tokenized real estate market remains a niche segment of the global property sector. A report by Deloitte predicts that $4 trillion in real estate could be tokenized by 2035, representing an annual growth rate of 27%. However, challenges such as uneven regulation and limited secondary market liquidity, as noted by EY, continue to hinder broader adoption. Dubai’s efforts aim to address these issues by creating a controlled environment for trading tokens while ensuring regulatory compliance. For crypto enthusiasts and financial professionals, this development underscores the growing role of blockchain in transforming traditional industries like real estate. By enabling fractional ownership and enhancing liquidity, tokenization offers a pathway for investors to access high-value assets more easily. Dubai’s leadership in this space positions it as a global hub for innovative financial technologies, particularly with its focus on integrating decentralized finance (DeFi) principles into mainstream markets. This initiative also highlights the importance of regulatory frameworks in fostering innovation. While regulation can sometimes stifle growth, Dubai’s

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Originally published on CoinDesk on 2/20/2026