Earlier this year, the Dubai Land Department (DLD) made headlines with the launch of its Real Estate Tokenisation Project under the Real Estate Evolution Space (REES) initiative. Developed in collaboration with the Dubai Future Foundation, the Central Bank of the UAE, the Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA), tokenisation infrastructure specialists CtrlAlt, and local real estate platform Prypco, the pilot is more than a technical experiment — it is a bold attempt to redefine how property is owned, traded, and regulated. For those watching the intersection of law, technology, and real estate, the stakes are high. True Ownership in the Digital Era For years, “real estate tokenisation” has been touted as the future, but most models to date have simply wrapped property in financial structures like SPVs and issued shares or tokens linked to those vehicles. Dubai’s approach, however, is something different. “What sets this initiative apart is the direct integration with the DLD registry,”...

Egypt – Saudi Arabia Bilateral Investment Treaty Signals Stronger Economic Ties and Legal Certainty The Arab Republic of Egypt and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia have officially entered into a new Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) designed to promote and protect cross-border investments between the two states. Signed on October 15, 2024, and entering into force on June 4, 2025, the treaty introduces a modern, investor-friendly framework that reflects both states’ commitment to economic integration and legal certainty for investors. A modernised definition of investment The new EGY–KSA BIT takes a broad and contemporary approach to defining “investment,” aligning with global standards and investor needs in today’s interconnected markets. It extends protection not only to direct ownership of assets but also to indirect shareholdings, reflecting the reality of multinational corporate structures and cross-border holdings. Critically, the treaty adopts the “Salini” criteria, a well-established...

A New Era of Property Investment

What is it and how can it be applied?