Launched on July 2, 2025, Dubai’s new “First Home Buyer” initiative aims to boost homeownership among residents by making property purchase more accessible. Spearheaded by the Dubai Land Department (DLD) in partnership with the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism, the program offers first-time buyers exclusive incentives. These include priority access to new off-plan and launch projects, preferential pricing on units (up to AED 5 million value), flexible payment schedules, and low-rate mortgages (up to 18-year tenor), as well as waived or interest-free DLD registration fees. The goal is to attract end-users (not just investors) into the market, in line with Dubai’s Real Estate Strategy 2033 and Year of Community 2025 to increase homeownership, strengthen communities and support the economy As one official put it, this step is “to make the dream of owning a home reality… [and] build a stronger, more resilient Dubai
Eligibility and Requirements
The program is open to all UAE residents (nationals and expatriates) aged 18 or over who have never before owned a freehold residential property in Participating buyers must hold a valid Emirates ID and apply through the DLD website or the Dubai REST app. Properties sought under the scheme must be freehold apartments or villas priced below AED 5 million, basic criteria, Dubai residency, adult age, and first-time buyer status, are explicitly stated by DLD (By definition, once a buyer completes a purchase under the program, they forfeit “first-time buyer” status and cannot reapply There is no fixed income threshold set by the initiative itself: financing eligibility is determined case-by-case by the participating banks. In practice, authorities have signaled that they will relax income requirements to include middle‑income earners (around AED 15,000, 20,000 per month) so they can afford sub‑AED 1 million homes
Salary Criteria and Adjustments
While the program imposes no formal minimum salary, participating lenders have discretion over individual loan approval. Industry sources note that banks will aim to accommodate a wide range of incomes. Developers involved in the scheme say they will make the “salary criteria…as generous as possible” to include buyers earning roughly AED 15k, 20kIn effect, the city encourages residents with modest salaries to consider affordable homes (around AED 1 million) under this plan Dubai’s goal is explicitly to broaden the pool of eligible buyers, giving lower‑ to middle-income residents a chance at homeownership.
Key Stakeholders and Partners
The initiative is a joint effort of the Dubai Land Department (DLD) and the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET DLD’s Registration Sector (led by CEO Majid Al Marri) and other senior officials have overseen the launch. More than 13 leading developers have signed up to offer special terms, including Emaar, Nakheel, DAMAC, Azizi, Danube, Meraas, Wasl, Palma, Binghatti, Ellington, and Majid Al Futtaim properties. Builders will reserve inventory for first-time buyers and provide discounts or fixed preferential prices on select units. Several major banks are also participating: Emirates NBD, Emirates Islamic, Mashreq, Dubai Islamic Bank, and Commercial Bank of Dubai. They have developed tailored mortgage packages (including low down-payments and long tenors) and even offer interest-free installment plans for DLD registration fees. In addition, leading real-estate platforms, Bayut, Property Finder, and Dubizzle, and local brokers have joined the effort to help residents sign up and navigate the
Benefits and Implications for Buyers
By design, the First Home program gives buyers a competitive advantage. Qualified applicants receive discounts and fixed prices that shield them from market appreciation during construction have committed to very low interest rates and extended loans (up to 18 years) to reduce monthly payments. In the words of DLD’s Khalid al Shibani, buyers will enjoy “good financing offers… with preferential prices. You will have additional benefits like discounts from developers. Property experts expect this to significantly expand demand from end-users. For example, RiseUp consultancy founder Aakarshan Kathuria predicts “more mid-income salaried individuals becoming first-time homeowners,” driven by access to the lowest available financing ratesDevelopers share this optimism: Danube Properties’ Ghayyour Khan says the scheme creates “an opportunity for people who are just thinking but not able to buy” and that it is “good for the market and for the new customers.”
Overall, analysts see a positive market impact. The program is expected to inject thousands of new buyers into a booming market. Dubai Land Department projects roughly 5,000 additional first-time buyers (nationals and residents) will enter the market through this scheme in 2025 As one source put it, the initiative “opens the door to buyers who were previously sidelined,” encouraging them to become long-term property stakeholders By boosting homeownership, the city also builds community stability and sustainable demand. (For example, it aligns with Dubai’s “D33” vision to broaden homeownership and double economic output by 2033
Implementation Timeline and Outlook
The First Home Buyer Programme was formally unveiled on July 2, 2025. From that date, UAE residents have been able to register through DLD’s website or the Dubai REST app In this initial phase, the scheme is limited to Dubai residents (UAE nationals and expatriates). Majid Al Marri indicated that a second phase could later extend benefits to overseas buyers. The application process is fully digital: applicants submit basic info (age, Emirates ID, desired property type) online, then partner developers match them to units, and banks provide financing offers within a day
Looking ahead, Dubai expects this program to make a tangible difference. Authorities estimate that thousands of new homeowners will be added by year-end (around 5,000). This surge would contribute toward the government’s target of AED 1 trillion in annual real-estate transactions by 203. More developers and lenders are anticipated to join over time, broadening the choice of projects. In sum, the initiative is designed to have both immediate and long-term effects: easing financing and pricing hurdles for first-time buyers now, while ultimately expanding Dubai’s base of property owners and supporting a resilient market.