Ripple is making significant strides in the global real estate space as Dubai officially integrates its XRP Ledger (XRPL) into the tokenization of property title deeds, marking a major advancement in secure and scalable blockchain-based asset custody.
Dubai Land Department Adopts Ripple for Real Estate Tokenization
On July 16, Ripple announced a key partnership with Ctrl Alt, a real estate tokenization platform approved by Dubai’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA), to support the Dubai Land Department’s (DLD) real estate digitization efforts. Under this agreement, Ctrl Alt will deploy Ripple’s institutional-grade custody technology to safeguard tokenized title deeds issued on the XRPL, positioning this as the first major real estate custody initiative Ripple has launched in the UAE.
Ripple stated:
“Ctrl Alt will utilize Ripple’s secure digital asset custody solution to support the DLD’s groundbreaking real estate tokenization initiative, offering scalable and compliant on-chain storage for property title deeds issued via the XRP Ledger.”
A Milestone for Blockchain in Public Real Estate Infrastructure
This collaboration marks the first instance of a government real estate registry in the Middle East adopting a public blockchain to tokenize property ownership — a move Ripple believes validates the XRPL’s suitability for regulated, high-stakes financial applications.
Reece Merrick, Ripple’s Managing Director for the Middle East and Africa, commented:
“That the Dubai Land Department selected the XRPL for this initiative is a powerful endorsement of its reliability for institutional-grade applications.”
Under the agreement, Ctrl Alt will handle the token issuance process, while Ripple will provide end-to-end digital custody infrastructure, ensuring secure asset management throughout the token lifecycle.
Expanding Access Through Fractional Ownership
Dubai’s blockchain strategy is designed to broaden access to real estate investment by enabling fractional ownership — allowing both retail and institutional investors to hold smaller, tradable shares of high-value properties. This model is expected to increase market participation and liquidity.
Ripple’s presence in the UAE continues to grow through multiple regulatory milestones. The company:
- Holds a license from the Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA)
- Has partnered with regional firms such as Zand Bank and Mamo for blockchain-enabled cross-border payments
- Recently received regulatory approval for its RLUSD stablecoin within DIFC
With over 60 global licenses, Ripple is reinforcing its infrastructure leadership across tokenized markets, including real estate, payments, and asset custody.
