From real estate to gold, Dubai’s VARA is piloting the tokenization of everything

From real estate to gold, Dubai’s VARA is piloting the tokenization of everything

Dubai’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA) CEO has revealed in an interview with the UAE Emirates News Agency (WAM) that it is working on new pilot projects after the success of the real estate tokenization pilot project with Dubai Land Department. The new pilot involves tokenization of Gold using DeFi.


Mathew White also noted that The Dubai Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA) has so far issued 36 full licences to entities operating in the virtual assets sector, with several hundred at various stages of the licensing process.


He noted that the ecosystem now includes over 400 registered entities involved in activities ranging from proprietary trading to blockchain technology services and other supporting operations.


Speaking on the DLD real estate tokenization project he added that these will soon be available on trading platforms allowing more accessibility and liquidity in the real estate market.

In June White on LinkedIn announced that VARA was piloting a decentralized exchange project, (DEX), the first of its kind in the MENA region. DEX is a peer to peer marketplace where users can trade cryptocurrencies directly with each other without the need for a central intermediary, differing from centralized crypto exchanges.

According to Mathew White CEO of VARA in a LinkedIn post, ” The conversation around decentralised finance (DeFi) has evolved. Not long ago, the question was “Will it survive?”. Now it’s “How fast can we integrate it? At the Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority [VARA], we don’t see DeFi as a threat to traditional finance (TradFi), but a high-efficiency tool for accelerating its evolution.”

White has stated out 2025 noting that it was the year of tokenization. In early January on Linked he had stated, ” Tokenized RWAs are on-chain representations of ownership in, or rights and obligations related to, assets like real estate, debt, equity, and other traditionally more illiquid financial assets. Tokenization can make them globally accessible and tradable, while also opening investment opportunities to individuals previously excluded from these asset markets.”

Dubai Land Department, crypto real estate payments in October 2025

Dubai Land Department, crypto real estate payments in October 2025

While PRYPCO MINT, the first licensed real estate tokenization platform, in partnership with Dubai Land Department, Dubai’s Regulatory Authority, and powered by Ctrl Alt blockchain, announced two new tokenized properties for investment, Dr. Mahmoud Al Burai, Senior Director of real estate policies and Innovation at Dubai Land Department also announced that soon it will all include crypto payments in October 2025.

In a recent LinkedIn post Dr. Mahmoud Al Burai noted that Crypto is coming as well as more opportunities in the real estate industry. He stated, “We are disrupting the industry big time. Hopefully we see soon investors and tenants paying in Crypto. Crypto traders buying real estate tokens, brokers getting commission in crypto and service charges paid in crypto.”

He also announced that due to the great success of Real estate tokenization project, They would be extending phase 1 of tokenizing ready properties till September 2025. He explained, “More properties will be tokenized soon by VARA licensed entities.” Finally he noted that in phase two cryptocurrency will be added in October. He explained, ” In phase two, we will add crypto currency to the model, expected October this year.”

Crypto.com and DLD sign agreement for including crypto in real estate sector

Just this week, Dubai Land Department and Crypto.com global crypto exchange recently signed a Memorandum of Cooperation to explore the use of Blockchain and digital currencies or crypto in the real estate sector. As per the announcement, the initiative is part of Dubai Real Estate Strategy 2033 that aims to build a smart, sustainable, real estate ecosystem using advanced technologies such as blockchain, and digital assets as well as tokenization.

PRYPCO announces two new tokenized properties

As for now PRYPCO Mint has announced that they are bringing a stunning apartment in Dubai Marina, and a beautiful viall in Dubai Land. In their X post they noted, “Get ready before launch. Stay tuned and keep your wallets ready!”

PRYPCO Mint already sold two tokenized properties. The first fully funded property attracted 224 investors from over 40 nationalities, with an average investment amount of $2,900. On the heels of the success of the first tokenized property listing in UAE and MENA, which brought in investments of over $700K, PRYPCO then did their second tokenized property worth $650K which was also a success.

QNB launches First regulated tokenized fund for UAE and MENA

QNB launches First regulated tokenized fund for UAE and MENA

During the Qatar Economic Forum, there was alot of discussions about cooperation between Financial zones collaborating on joint initiatives especially between Qatar and the UAE. Today this news on Qatar National Bank ( Singapore Branch) and DMZ Finance, a blockchain financial technology company also headquartered in Singapore have received the first MENA regulated tokenized money market fund from Dubai Financial Services Authority, the regulatory body at DIFC in Dubai UAE.

For those unfamiliar with the term money market fund, it is a type of mutual fund that invests in low-risk, short-term debt securities like Treasury bills, commercial paper, and certificates of deposit.

As per the press release, QNB, the largest financial institution in the Middle East and Africa, will serve as the fund’s lead originator and investment manager. DMZ Finance, acting as co-originator, providing the exclusive tokenization infrastructure powering the fund.

RWAs are increasingly recognized as a critical bridge between traditional finance (TradFi) and decentralized finance (DeFi). According to a recent report by Ripple and BCG, the market for tokenized RWAs is projected to grow to USD18.9 trillion by 2033 under a midpoint scenario.

Mr. Silas Lee, CEO of QNB Singapore, highly praised the successful launch of QCDT. He stated, “QCDT is not only the first DFSA-approved tokenized money market fund in Dubai but also a pivotal step in QNB’s digital asset journey. It marks a new phase in our strategic roadmap and lays a strong foundation for the future of multi-asset tokenization. As the Middle East rapidly emerges as a global hub for financial innovation, the successful deployment of QCDT further consolidates QNB’s leadership in the regional financial ecosystem and reflects our long-term vision to shape the next generation of financial infrastructure.”

Mr. Nathan Ma, Co-Founder and Chairman of DMZ Finance, emphasized: The tokenization of real-world assets is becoming a fundamental bridge between traditional capital markets and the digital asset economy. DMZ Finance is working closely with regulatory and financial institutions across the Middle East and other emerging markets to promote the compliant development of RWA infrastructure. Our commitment is to build a secure, efficient and transparent financial buffer between on-chain and off-chain markets.

QCDT strengths will be in its offering of stable yield, institutional-grade custody, on-chain transparency and regulatory endorsement, QCDT sets a benchmark for compliant tokenized financial products in the Middle East.

QCDT is designed to serve a wide range of institutional use cases: as eligible collateral for banks, mapped collateral for centralized exchanges, reserves for stablecoins and a foundational layer for Web3 payment infrastructure.

Saudi Fundraizerly for tokenizing fundraising signs up alternative investment manager

Saudi Fundraizerly for tokenizing fundraising signs up alternative investment manager

Fundraizerly, the end-to-end platform for investment management, digital fundraising and asset tokenization, has been selected by an alternative-investment manager with AUM in the low nine-figure range to power its next generation of closed-end funds.

As per the press release, the client’s identity remains confidential under a mutual non-disclosure agreement, but the firm has granted written consent to share aggregate details of the engagement. Fundraizerly and the client may release a named case study once regulatory filings and internal policies permit.

Using Fundraizerly’s tokenization engine on the Base Layer-2 network, the manager will issue fund units as compliant on-chain tokens—unlocking real-time cap-table visibility, automated distributions and programmable transfer rules. Base network, incubated by Coinbase, provides low fees and fast settlement while inheriting Ethereum’s security.

To enhance investor servicing, the mandate also activates Fundraizerly’s AI Assistants—domain-specific large-language-model agents trained on the fund’s portfolio data. Industry research shows that more than two-thirds of enterprises are already training staff or hiring talent to deploy Gen-AI solutions.

“Tokenization has become the operating system of modern funds,” said Haiyan Alsaiyed, CEO of Fundraizerly. “By combining our secure issuance stack with Base’s scalability and AI-driven investor support, this partnership sets a new benchmark for mid-market managers.”

The announcement comes as the on-chain value of tokenised real-world assets (RWAs) has surpassed US $24 billion across public blockchains—highlighting accelerating institutional adoption. (forbes.com)

UAE Web3 Fund Aqua 1 invests in World Liberty Financial tokens

UAE Web3 Fund Aqua 1 invests in World Liberty Financial tokens

Aqua 1, Web3-native fund which seems to have been created recently, and on its website does not state who its team is announced it invested $100 million into Trump’s World Liberty Financial (WLFI) token, as a means to participate in the governance of the DeFi platform. The partnership will seek to synergize USD1 infrastructure to ignite adoption across commercial payment gateways and treasury management systems.

As per the announcement, the commitment will help accelerate the creation of a blockchain powered financial ecosystem centered on blockchain, Real World Asset (RWA) tokenization, and stablecoin integration.

The authors go on to noted, together, WLFI and Aqua 1 are building the definitive bridge between legacy systems and blockchain innovation, an institutional-grade marketplace delivering unparalleled access to traditional assets.

“We’re excited to work hand-in-hand with the team at Aqua 1,” said Zak Folkman, Co-Founder of World Liberty Financial. “Aligning with Aqua 1 validates our blueprint for global financial innovation, as we have a joint mission to bring digital assets to the masses and strengthen our nation’s standing as a champion and leader of cryptocurrency and blockchain technology.”

“WLFI and Aqua 1 will jointly identify and nurture high-potential blockchain projects together,” stated Dave Lee, Founding Partner of Aqua 1. ( no LinkedIn profile available)“WLFI’s USD1 ecosystem and RWA pipeline embody the trillion-dollar structural pivot opportunity we seek to catalyze, where architects merge traditional capital markets with decentralized primitives to redefine global financial infrastructure.”

Beyond the U.S. market, Aqua 1’s global investment and compliance teams will assist WLFI in expanding across South America, Europe, Asia, and emerging markets to accelerate digital asset ecosystem development.

Strategically, WLFI also plans to support the launch of Aqua 1’s Aqua Fund, a UAE-domiciled investment fund developed in partnership with leading regional stakeholders. The fund will be dedicated to accelerating the Middle East’s digital economy transformation through advanced blockchain infrastructure, artificial intelligence integration, and global Web3 adoption.

Aqua Fund aims to serve as a gateway for capital, talent, and technology to converge, positioning the region at the forefront of the next digital wave. Aqua Fund intends to partner with a secondary trading venue within ADGM to list the fund and facilitate secondary market liquidity for investors.

Furthermore, both parties plan to jointly develop and incubate BlockRock (https://x.com/BlockRock_rwa), an institutional RWA tokenization platform, focused on digitizing and integrating premium traditional assets into the Web3 ecosystem.

This is not the first time a UAE entity engaged with World Liberty Financial when it was announced that MGX, an Abu Dhabi tech company invested $2 billion in Binance crypto exchange, using the USD1 stablecoin. Binance listed World Liberty Financial USD (USD1) and opened trading for the following spot trading pair USD1/USDT.

Aqua-Index water backed digital asset token to be launched in UAE

Aqua-Index water backed digital asset token to be launched in UAE

UAE based DMCC, the Dubai commodities free zone, signed an MOU with AQUA-INDEX, a global pioneer in water commodities trading to launch the world’s first digital asset token backed by freshwater resources.

As per the press release, this will revolutionize how water is traded, valued and managed globally.

The token – the first of its kind globally – is backed by verified, drinking-quality water stored in global reservoirs and will enable investors, hedgers, traders and the general public to trade, hold and take delivery of fresh water as a commodity. By combining financial innovation with water market expertise, the partnership offers a practical mechanism for unlocking new liquidity and transparency in global water supply chains.

Under the partnership, AQUA-INDEX will benefit from DMCC’s extensive global network, world-class services, advanced infrastructure, and leading commodity marketplace, facilitating the effective trading and investment in water assets. AQUA-INDEX will enhance the availability and exchange of knowledge around global water usage and pricing and provide access to essential trading and hedging products for DMCC and its member companies.

DMCC will not directly own or manage the token itself.

Ahmed Bin Sulayem, Executive Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, DMCC, said, “Nearly half the global population experiences water scarcity for at least part of the year, yet water remains the only critical resource without a mature, regulated market. We are proud to partner with AQUA-INDEX to drive a transparent, neutral, and legally coherent structure and marketplace for water to secure the future of a resource that has long been undervalued.

This is the next clear milestone in the formation of DMCC Water Centre, where we will not only bring the conversation of water to the forefront, but also attract the sector’s leading companies to create a global centre in Dubai for water innovation, security, sustainable best practice, knowledge and education, while ensuring that the world’s most transported commodity has the ability to reach water distressed areas.”

Yaacov Shirazi, Chairman and Founder of AQUA INDEX, added, “Pricing water by the value of its usage, standardization of water by its mineral content and quality, and turning water to a new asset class for a financial trading, is a gamechanger in the world economy. It will establish new levels of water management which prevents scarcity, contamination, and lack of access.”

The Water Centre brings together WaterTech innovators, logistics providers and commodity traders under one platform.

DFSA starts second phase of tokenization testing license program

DFSA starts second phase of tokenization testing license program

The Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA), the independent regulator of the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), has started the next phase of its Tokenization Regulatory Sandbox, beginning engagement with firms selected to join its Innovation Testing License program, the DFSA’s regulatory sandbox that allows entities to test innovative financial products and services under a controlled environment.

As per the press release, The DFSA’s Tokenization Regulatory Sandbox, launched in March 2025, received 96 expressions of interest from across the United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, European Union, Canada, Singapore, and Hong Kong. The launch of the sandbox marks a major step forward in the DFSA’s strategy to support responsible financial innovation within the DIFC and reflects its growing focus on tokenization as a transformative force in financial services.

Applications included proposals to tokenize financial assets and instruments, such as bonds (including Islamic bonds, or sukuk), units in a fund (including money market funds and property funds), and the trading and safe custody of those assets. The initiative attracted strong interest from both established financial institutions wishing to explore tokenization use cases and innovative start-ups looking to scale breakthrough digital asset solutions in a regulated environment.

Speaking at the DFSA’s Policy & Legal Roundtable, Charlotte Robins, Managing Director, Policy & Legal, said, “The global interest in our Tokenization Regulatory Sandbox signals the importance of, and growing appetite for, responsible innovation, and recognizes the appeal of DFSA’s regulatory approach to innovation. As a regulator, our role is to support innovation and its positive contribution to the financial markets in ways that maintain market integrity and protect the public interest within the DIFC. By working closely with local and global firms through the sandbox, we are encouraging responsible innovation and helping to ensure that new ideas are tested against regulatory expectations.”

Following a detailed review, applicants were assessed based on their business model, clarity of use case, and readiness to test. Some firms were invited into the sandbox for live testing under the Innovation Testing Licence, while others were considered suitable for full authorisation under existing rules due to the maturity of their operations and experience in other regulated jurisdictions.

The DFSA will now work with the firms selected for the Innovation Testing Licence to co-develop bespoke testing plans. Sandbox participants will begin trials within a controlled environment in the coming weeks. The outcomes from this cohort will help inform future regulatory policy and potential refinements to the DFSA’s evolving digital assets and broader innovation frameworks.

Qatar Financial Centre to create carbon token markets

Qatar Financial Centre to create carbon token markets

As per an article in Qatar Times, The Qatar Financial Centre (QFC) is creating an ecosystem for tokenized carbon markets. The market will not only facilitate cross-border carbon credit movements but also enable tokens produced in various countries to be easily exchanged. “The carbon markets ecosystem will be tested within the lab environment to validate its functionality, efficiency, and potential impact on carbon offset initiatives,” the QFC said.

It was one of the innovation challenges at QFC Digital Assets Lab. The tokenisation of carbon credits is aligned with the global linking of the currently “fragmented” carbon markets, and facilitates the cross-border movement of carbon credits; the interoperability of DLT (distributed ledger technology) protocols will enable tokens produced in different countries to be easily exchanged, it added.

The objectives of creating carbon markets ecosystem are to develop and test a DLT-powered platform that facilitates the tokenisation, trading and verification of carbon credits.

“The QFC aims to collaborate with industry stakeholders to coordinate the advancement of digital utilities and platforms that enable the smooth and reliable flow of environmental, social and governance (ESG) data,” it said.

These initiatives would play a crucial role in aiding financial institutions and businesses to channel capital to sustainable projects, while also monitoring commitments and evaluating the overall impact, according to it.

“The QFC will partner with domestic and international Greentech providers and stakeholders to develop the network which will include a disclosure portal, registry, and a marketplace/exchange,” it said.

The carbon credit tokenisation involves the migration of information and features of carbon credits onto a DLT, where these credits are represented as tokens and can also be directly issued on DLT, with all associated attributes publicly accessible.

Each carbon credit corresponds to a carbon token, establishing a one-to-one relationship, it said, adding the QFC’s role is to establish the rules for the lab as well as getting approvals, monitoring participation, intervening when there is non-compliance and commercial establishment. “The QFC will support the development of the ecosystem,” it said, “in looking forward, QFC acknowledges that the digital assets landscape is constantly evolving, and innovative solutions continue to emerge.”

The endeavour would be to design carbon offsets projects in consultation with stakeholders and sells carbon credits to buyers. The QFC ecosystem would ensure setting standards for carbon credit quality, certify and issue carbon credits, and have a registry to track certified credit projects and credits issuance and retirement.

Earlier The Hashgraph Association had announced that they had partnered with Qatar Financial Centre (QFC) Digital assets Lab noting that within the next 12 months it will work together with stakeholders to explore implementing five innovative use cases, in the areas of equity tokenization, Sukuk Islamic Bonds tokenization, real estate tokenization, sustainability ESG Carbon credits, as well as consumer engagement and loyalty programs.

Dubai PRYPCO Mint launches its second tokenized property

Dubai PRYPCO Mint launches its second tokenized property

On the heels of the success of the first tokenized property listing in UAE and MENA, which brought in investments of over $700K, Dubai PRYPCO, Dubai Land Department, under the regulatory overlook of Dubai’s Virtual Asset Regulatory Authority and the Central Bank of the UAE, have announced the launch of their second tokenized property worth $650K.

PRYPCO Mint will go live with the second tokenized property listing on June 11th 2025. As per the press release, the next phase not only reinforces investor confidence in fractional property ownership but also strengthens Dubai’s standing as a global pioneer in real estate innovation and blockchain-powered investment.

The new tokenized property is a one bedroom apartment in Kensington Water, at Mohammed Bin Rashid City. It has a total valuation of AED 1.5 million ( $653K) offered at a discounted rate compared to its estimated market value of AED 1.875 million.

Through fractional ownership starting from just AED 2,000, ( $540) to UAE residents holding Emirates IDs.

Amira Sajwani, Founder and CEO of PRYPCO, said, “The incredible response to our first tokenised property proved that investors are ready for a smarter, more accessible way to invest in real estate. With our second property, we’re continuing to break down traditional barriers and offer high-quality opportunities to a broader, more diverse audience. At PRYPCO, our mission is to democratise property ownership, and this is just the beginning.”

Already PRYPCO Mint which was launched on May 25th has been successful in its first offering, a two bedroom apartment in Business Bay that attracted 224 investors from over 40 nationalities, with an average investment of $2900. The first was also listed at $653,000 and was fully funded in one day.

Blockchain based certificates of Property Token Ownership were granted for the first property. Ctrl Alt powers the blockchain infrastructure, issuing secure ownership tokens on the XRP Ledger, while UAE digital bank Zand serves as the official banking partner.

Targeting tech-savvy investors, millennials, and first-time buyers, PRYPCO Mint enables digital property ownership through a mobile-first experience, transforming real estate from a traditionally slow, capital-heavy asset into a flexible, inclusive, and liquid investment.

PRYPCO Mint platform is expected to open to international investors in its next phase, further expanding Dubai’s real estate footprint as a global innovation hub.

Allo Blockchain to pilot digital identity and RWA tokenization in Qatar

Allo Blockchain to pilot digital identity and RWA tokenization in Qatar

After being admitted to Qatar’s Digital Assets Lab, Allo, a blockchain tokenization platform has announced that it will begin piloting initiatives in areas such as secure digital identity systems as well as tokenization of real world assets.

By working within the Qatar Digital Assets Lab, Allo is able to fine-tune its blockchain technologies to meet the specific demands of local markets. This includes use cases such as Islamic finance, regional data protection standards, and tokenized assets.

According to Allo, the opportunity to build and test under regulatory guidance is relatively rare and enables developers to refine applications in alignment with both legal and market realities.

Allo not only is focusing solely on technical development, it is also collaborating for, security, and regulatory adaptability. Allo’s participation supports efforts to ensure that blockchain tools are accessible, secure, and tailored to real-world financial inclusion and risk mitigation needs.

The goal is to generate actionable insights on how distributed ledger technology can strengthen financial infrastructure while maintaining compliance with regulatory frameworks.

Other partners at Qatar Digital Asset Lab such as The Hashgraph Association, are also working on five tokenization use cases.