More than 2,000 residents purchased properties for the first time in Dubai over the past six months under the First-Time Home Buyer (FTHB) Programme, launched last year, according to the Dubai Land Department (DLD). The residential property sales reached Dh3.25 billion during this period.
Nearly half of the buyers, 49 per cent, were residents who have lived in Dubai for over five years without previously owning a home. The programme, initiated jointly by the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET) and DLD in July, aims to make homeownership more accessible for first-time buyers.
The initiative works in collaboration with developers and banks, giving participants priority access to new projects, tailored mortgage options, and preferential pricing. More than 41,000 residents have registered for the programme to date.
Following its initial success, the government plans to expand the programme to include more developers and properties. Current participating developers include Aziz, Emaar, Damac, Ellington Properties, Majid Al Futtaim, Beyond Properties, Danube Properties, Wasl, Nakheel, Dubai Properties, Meraas, Palma Development, and Binghatti. Partnering financial institutions include Dubai Islamic Bank, Commercial Bank of Dubai, Emirates Islamic, Emirates NBD, and Mashreq.
Rising rents in Dubai are prompting many tenants to consider ownership. The shift reflects a broader trend, as expatriates increasingly settle long-term in the UAE, rather than treating it as a temporary destination.
Hadi Badri, CEO of the Dubai Economic Development Corporation, said the initiative strengthens investor confidence and boosts the real estate sector’s contribution to Dubai’s economy, aligning with the goals of the Dubai Economic Agenda, D33.
First-time buyers have described the programme as a life-changing opportunity. Fatma Almarri, who purchased her first home under the initiative, said the programme made homeownership achievable, especially on a single income, and gave her greater confidence in managing her financial future. Jade Lee shared that the programme provided stability and a foundation she could build upon, having grown up in a family where moving between rental homes was common.
Majid Al Marri, CEO of the Real Estate Registration Sector at DLD, noted that the strong interest in the programme highlights its success in converting latent demand into real transactions. He added that the initiative demonstrates how regulatory policies, when combined with partnerships between government entities, developers, and banks, can simplify homeownership and enhance market trust, transparency, and stability.
The First-Time Home Buyer Programme has quickly become a key tool for supporting Dubai’s property market while offering residents a practical pathway to long-term investment in the city.
