The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah announced that more than 1.2 million pilgrims have entered Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah since the beginning of the current season, which started on Dhu Al Hijjah 15 (June 12) and continued through the end of Muharram 30. Pilgrims have arrived from 109 countries, underscoring the global significance of the pilgrimage.

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The ministry reported a 30 per cent increase in the number of pilgrims entering Saudi Arabia on Umrah visas compared to the same period last year. Additionally, the number of Umrah visas issued rose by 27 per cent.

To support this influx, over 4,200 contracts have been signed between Umrah companies and international agents, bolstering operational capacity to accommodate the growing demand, a Saudi Press Agency report said.

Improved services and digital transformation

The current Umrah season officially began on Dhu Al Hijjah 14, 1446 AH, with the issuance of visas through the Nusuk platform, which aims to streamline the pilgrimage experience as part of broader goals under Saudi Vision 2030.

The ministry noted that this season follows a successful Hajj marked by seamless coordination, enhanced procedures, and the development of advanced technical infrastructure. It emphasised that preparations for the Umrah season began well in advance in collaboration with relevant authorities to ensure a smooth and organised experience for all pilgrims.

In addition, the ministry has expanded awareness campaigns and digital services in multiple languages. These efforts reflect Saudi Arabia’s commitment to serving visitors to the Two Holy Mosques, ensuring the highest standards of comfort, safety, and satisfaction for worshippers.

While confidence in operational resilience is growing among IT teams in the EMEA region, a new study by SolarWinds suggests this optimism may be superficial, with day-to-day disruptions continuing to consume significant resources.

The 2025 IT Trends Report, Fragile to Agile: The State of Operational Resilience, surveyed more than 200 IT professionals across EMEA.

The findings reveal that 89 per cent of IT leaders describe their organisation as resilient, yet only one in three (34 per cent) feel “very resilient.”

According to the report, 45 per cent of EMEA IT leaders spend a quarter of their working week resolving critical issues and service disruptions. This indicates a disconnect between perceived resilience and the reality of daily operations.

IT report shows processes are “biggest obstacles”

The study also highlights that cumbersome processes, not technology, are the biggest obstacles to stronger resilience, with over a third (35 per cent) of participants pointing to workflow issues. Half of those surveyed blame processes during periods of disruption, and 38 per cent state that they lack a sufficient number of people to be operationally resilient.

Abdul Rehman Tariq Butt, regional director – Middle East at SolarWinds, commented on the findings: “To remain competitive in such a fast-moving market, IT teams need the right talent, streamlined workflows, and modern tools to embed resilience into daily operations and focus on innovation rather than recovery.”

Despite the challenges, EMEA IT teams are proactively investing in operational resilience, with a quarter of respondents allocating between 21 per cent and 30 per cent of their IT budgets to disruption prevention.

Cullen Childress, chief product officer at SolarWinds, stated that “achieving it requires more than just adopting new technology. Organisations must equip their IT teams with the right tools, workflows, and talent to stay agile and responsive.”

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Real estate tokenisation is no longer a concept of the future — it’s a fast-unfolding reality, and Dubai is at the forefront. As the emirate pilots regulated models and integrates blockchain infrastructure into government systems, tokenisation is reshaping ownership, access, and investment. From luxury properties on Palm Jumeirah to institutional-grade smart contracts, this evolution is creating a more accessible, liquid and tech-enabled marketplace.

Below, key voices shaping the property landscape share their perspectives on how tokenisation is transforming the industry.

Yogesh Bulchandani, CEO, Sunrise Capital

Tokenisation has the potential to democratise real estate by enabling fractional ownership, making high-value assets accessible to a broader base of investors. It directly addresses two longstanding barriers in the sector: liquidity and transparency.

With the global tokenised real estate market valued at $3.5bn in 2024 and forecasted to reach $19.4bn by 2033, the shift is already well underway. The UAE is taking clear strides in this direction, with active pilots from the Dubai Land Department, the Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority, and the Central Bank. For adoption to accelerate, we need clearer legal frameworks around smart contracts, greater system interoperability, and robust investor education. Hospitality assets and branded residences are proving the most popular for tokenised and fractional ownership, largely thanks to their dependable income potential and strong brand equity.

We are also seeing increased interest in luxury residential units, driven by their asset appreciation and global demand. For developers, tokenisation unlocks new capital channels, accelerates presales, and improves liquidity. For investors, the appeal lies in lower entry points, diversification, and the ability to trade shares — benefits that traditional real estate often lacks. In Dubai alone, tokenised real estate transactions reached $399m in H1 2025.

We’re piloting smart contracts for escrow handling, rental flows, and milestone-based payments. The primary challenge remains legal enforceability under UAE civil law, which currently views smart contracts as auxiliary agreements. Developers and proptech firms are increasingly collaborating to build tokenised platforms, with joint ventures forming and platforms like Prypco Mint, powered by the XRP Ledger, being integrated into government registries. The biggest misconception is that tokenisation is equivalent to high-risk cryptocurrency trading, when in fact it offers a secure, compliant means of digitising real-world assets. The Gulf, particularly the UAE and Bahrain, is leading this evolution and Dubai’s tokenised real estate market alone could reach $16bn by 2033.

Kalpesh Kinariwala founder, Pantheon Development

Tokenisation is a seismic shift in the luxury real estate landscape. Over the next five to ten years, this technology will lower investment barriers and enable fractional ownership of high-value assets. By leveraging blockchain’s security and transparency, tokenisation will democratise access to premium properties, attract new classes of investors, and create a more liquid, globally connected market.

We are confident that tokenisation will become mainstream in the UAE, thanks to the region’s forward-thinking regulatory initiatives and robust appetite for technological innovation. Our advanced R&D investments affirm our commitment to supporting and shaping this evolution into a secure, scalable investment ecosystem.

Today, Dubai has become a hotbed for fractional ownership of high-end properties. The Dubai Land Department, in partnership with the Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority and Dubai Future Foundation, launched a regulated tokenisation pilot this year — opening access to premium properties in areas like Palm Jumeirah, Downtown, and Emirates Hills.

According to a 2025 report by Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism, tokenised residential assets are forecast to represent Dhs60bn in transactions by 2033, accounting for approximately 7 per cent of the emirate’s real estate market. This growth is being driven by both local and foreign retail investors entering with as little as Dhs 500, gaining exposure to assets previously reserved for the ultra-wealthy.

Commercial and mixed-use properties are also steadily gaining traction in the tokenisation ecosystem.

Office buildings, retail strips, and multi-purpose developments are being fractionalised primarily for their predictable rental yields and long-term tenant contracts. Developers are leveraging tokenisation not only as a sales tool, but also as a financing mechanism — avoiding traditional debt structures.

Zeeshaan Shah, chairman, One Group and founder of ELEVATE 

We’ve seen tokenised real estate gain serious traction across the UK and Europe, driven by a broader wave of innovation powered by AI, blockchain, and advanced proptech platforms. The UAE, with its investor-friendly climate, tech-forward mindset, and appetite for disruption, is a ripe market to take this on. But for tokenisation to move from hype to tangible impact, what’s crucial is the creation of a robust, integrated ecosystem — legal, digital, and financial. Dubai, in particular, has the infrastructure and ambition to not just adopt these technologies, but to lead the region — and possibly the world — in setting the benchmark.

Veer Doshi, MD and CEO, Vincitore Real Estate Development

Over the next decade, tokenisation will unlock unprecedented access, liquidity, and global reach — just as Dubai has pioneered through the DLD–VARA pilot and REES sandbox in 2025. It will energise secondary markets, streamline off-plan financing, and elevate fractional investing from novelty to mainstream—helping Dubai secure a projected $16bn tokenised market by 2033. As a forward-looking developer, we’re evaluating how these innovations can integrate with our vision of redefining luxury living through architecture, technology, wellness, and financial accessibility. 

The UAE is uniquely positioned to lead the global shift to tokenised real estate—especially in the luxury segment, where innovation and trust are critical. But for tokenisation to become mainstream, three pillars must align: regulatory clarity, investor readiness, and seamless tech-legal integration. When smart contracts operate within a trusted framework, tokenised ownership won’t just be possible — it will be inevitable.

For developers, tokenisation provides access to global capital while preserving brand equity. For investors, it offers flexible entry, transparency, and liquidity, redefining real estate as an agile, intelligent asset class aligned with Dubai’s future.

Developer–proptech collaboration is shifting from experimentation to execution. Together, they’re building asset-backed ecosystems merging compliance, liquidity, and user experience. 

A common misconception is that tokenisation guarantees fast capital and instant liquidity. But the reality is that it demands greater transparency, legal structure, and discipline.

Dubai isn’t waiting for global frameworks, it’s setting them. With initiatives like VARA’s Rulebook 2.0 and DLD’s regulatory sandbox, the Gulf is fast becoming the global benchmark for tokenised real estate.

Imran Khan, founder and CEO, PIXL Global | Invespy

In the UAE, we’re building the rails for a smarter property market, and tokenisation is a cornerstone. But proptech isn’t just about the tech — it’s about trust. While the success of the latest initiative by DLD, which sold out in under two minutes, is a powerful

signal of what’s possible. Standardisation, cybersecurity, and user experience will be key in driving adoption. This is the future of UAE real estate, and there’s no better place than Dubai to lead it — the city has always had a remarkable ability to embrace and scale game-changing innovations.

Shabana Farooq, managing partner and COO, URBAN Properties

Innovation has always been at the heart of the real estate industry, from how we list and market properties to how we close deals and build client relationships. Tokenisation is the next evolution in that journey. We’re constantly seeking smarter, faster, and more transparent ways to connect buyers with the right opportunities — and this technology allows us to do just that. It opens the door to a wider investor pool,

fractional ownership models, and quicker transactions. Ultimately, it’s about making real estate more accessible and engaging for today’s digital-first customer. It won’t replace the human element, but it will definitely enhance how we sell, communicate, and deliver value.

Rakesh Mirchandani co-founder of RRS International Development and partner at RRS Capital ManagementProperties

With Dubai leading as the first emirate to regulate real estate tokenisation, we’re entering a new era of property investment. It offers a more accessible, hassle-free way to own and manage real estate — perfect for Gen Z, Gen Alpha and all those who prefer digital, blockchain-enabled solutions. Investors can start from just Dhs2,000 (approx. $545) and still proudly hold real estate while diversifying across other asset classes.

While the concept is still new and comes with a learning curve, the benefits for both sides — greater transparency, global liquidity, and ease of ownership — make it an exciting and strong option, even for cautious investors and those who are traditionally risk averse. As this ecosystem grows we will educate ourselves to invest better.

Captain Pradeep Singh, founder, Karma Developers

Tokenisation will democratise real estate by enabling fractional ownership, increasing liquidity, and opening access to global investors. Given the right regulatory framework, we can expect it to evolve from a niche innovation to a mainstream investment vehicle — much like how REITs reshaped real estate decades ago. The UAE is already laying the groundwork, from the Dubai Land Department’s pilot tokenisation project to VARA’s regulatory frameworks. For tokenisation to scale, continued enhancements in regulatory clarity will further accelerate adoption, along with robust secondary markets and greater education among traditional stakeholders. So far, high-value residential and hospitality assets are leading the charge. There’s growing interest in branded residences and lifestyle-led developments for tokenisation, particularly among younger, tech-savvy investors. However, as tokenisation becomes more mainstream than novelty, efficiencies would result in assets with good rental returns having higher trading volumes.

For developers, tokenisation unlocks faster access to capital and broadens the investor base. For investors, it offers lower entry points, enhanced liquidity, and real-time transparency. We are still in the process of evaluating and understanding the advantages and challenges of smart contracts. Globally, one of the key challenges remains the lack of universal legal recognition — many jurisdictions don’t treat them as fully enforceable contracts. Traditional agreements benefit from established legal frameworks, while smart contracts rely solely on code, which can be prone to errors with significant consequences. That said, smart contracts in Dubai’s real estate sector offer significant potential for automation, transparency, and cost efficiency. However, as mentioned, adoption is in early stages and largely concentrated in tech-forward projects.

Widespread implementation will depend on regulatory updates, increased stakeholder awareness, and seamless integration with DLD and other official platforms. The Gulf — and Dubai in particular — is leading the region in embracing tokenisation. Initiatives like the DLD’s Real Estate Evolution Space and VARA’s licensing regime show a clear commitment to innovation with oversight.

Riz Ahmed CEO, SmartCrowd

In the next five to 10 years, real estate will exist as on-chain tokens backed by income-generating assets — programmable, tradable, and transparent. At SmartCrowd, we laid the foundation for this transformation through fractional ownership. Tokenisation builds on that, embedding real estate into blockchain to create digital assets that can be traded in real time, with smart contracts automating governance, compliance, and distribution. Unlike traditional platforms, settlement can now happen in minutes, not months. Dubai is no longer experimenting—it’s implementing. With the Dubai Land Department issuing Tokenisation Certificates and VARA regulating virtual assets, the infrastructure is validated and government-backed. This is not just a tech innovation; it’s an institutional-grade investment channel.

Tokenisation will go mainstream not because it’s trendy, but because it’s better, merging the transparency of blockchain, the flexibility of fintech, and the legal robustness of traditional real estate. That said, education is key. Many still confuse tokenised real estate with crypto speculation. In reality, it’s underpinned by tangible, income-producing assets with regulatory oversight. The idea that it’s unregulated or untested couldn’t be further from the truth — platforms like ours have proven the model works.

Secondary residential properties are currently the most viable asset class due to title clarity, income track record, and regulatory ease. The biggest draw for developers is liquidity — tokenisation unlocks faster access to capital and reduces reliance on institutional buyers. For investors, it offers lower entry points, transparency, and the potential for real-time exits.

What’s needed next is deeper integration with mainstream finance apps, broader institutional participation, and continued regulatory collaboration. The UAE is setting the global playbook for tokenised real estate, and we’re proud to help drive that change from the ground up.

Looking ahead

As the UAE cements its position as a global innovator in tokenised real estate, the road ahead lies in scaling adoption through education, regulation, and trust. With the right framework, what began as a tech-forward experiment could soon redefine the core of property ownership, investment, and access — not just in Dubai, but worldwide.

Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) will open a new exit in early August from the collector road connecting Financial Centre Street to Ras Al Khor Road, near the Bu Kadra Interchange. The move is part of the RTA’s Rapid Traffic Solutions Plan aimed at boosting road network efficiency and easing traffic congestion, particularly in the Ras Al Khor area—home to major commercial, industrial, and residential developments.

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The new exit is expected to significantly improve traffic flow at the Bu Kadra Interchange by providing an additional route for vehicles heading toward Ras Al Khor Road and Dubai–Al Ain Road. According to the RTA, the upgrade will slash peak-hour travel time by 54 per cent, reducing it from 13 minutes to just 6 minutes.

This latest development builds on a series of recent enhancements in the Ras Al Khor corridor. Among them is the widening of Exit 25 from Ras Al Khor Road to Al Khail Road, heading toward Al Meydan Street. The 500-metre stretch was expanded from one to two lanes, doubling its capacity to accommodate up to 3,000 vehicles per hour. The result: reduced queue lengths and a cut in peak travel time from 7 minutes to 4 minutes.

These upgrades align with Dubai’s broader vision for urban mobility and infrastructure development. The RTA reiterated its commitment to delivering sustainable, long-term solutions to meet the needs of a growing city.