Qatar has opened a public consultation on a draft law aimed at regulating the tokenisation and trading of real estate assets, marking a significant step toward integrating digital asset technology within the country’s property and financial markets. The draft Law Regulating Real-Estate Tokenisation and Trading of Real-Estate Tokens, together with its draft Executive Regulations, was published on the “Sharek” public consultation platform, allowing stakeholders 10 days to provide feedback.
The initiative is a collaborative effort involving the General Secretariat of the Council of Ministers, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Municipality, Qatar Central Bank, the Qatar Financial Markets Authority, and the General Real Estate Regulatory Authority. The 2026 draft law proposes a legal framework that permits the division of ownership interests in real estate into tradable digital tokens, potentially enabling fractional ownership and broader investment access.
Under this framework, ownership in a property can be split into equal-value digital tokens. These tokens may either represent a direct, undivided share in the property itself or an interest in a special-purpose real estate company holding the asset. This model offers investors the possibility to engage in real estate markets without purchasing entire properties, lowering the entry threshold and offering greater liquidity and flexibility when transferring ownership interests.
Importantly, the proposal places these activities under stringent regulatory oversight. Tokenisation, trading, custody, record-keeping, and promotional activities in Qatar would require proper licensing and supervision. The draft law aims to avoid the establishment of an unregulated cryptocurrency market by ensuring that all related processes comply with disclosure and operational requirements.
The system would maintain a direct legal link between tokens and the underlying real estate. An electronic token register—potentially leveraging distributed ledger technology—would synchronize with the official property registry to record token ownership and transactions. Despite this integration, the existing property registry would remain the ultimate authority concerning legal descriptions, boundaries, rights, and encumbrances, preventing the emergence of a parallel property registration mechanism.
The draft law also preserves current restrictions on foreign ownership. Non-Qataris would be permitted to acquire real estate tokens only for properties located in areas where foreign ownership or usufruct rights are allowed by law. Tokenisation would not serve as a means to circumvent these ownership limits. Designated areas where foreign ownership is permissible are outlined, with potential expansions possible through Council of Ministers’ approval. However, residential areas designated for citizens and ordinary neighbourhoods outside these zones would be excluded.
Further eligibility criteria stipulate that tokenised properties must have clear and properly registered titles, be free from disputes, seizures, or liens without creditor consent, comply with zoning rules, and be fully insured by licensed insurers. Properties that are state-owned, subsidised citizen housing units, waqf properties, or subject to expropriation or urban redevelopment are excluded from tokenisation.
The public consultation phase offers stakeholders an opportunity to shape the regulatory framework for what could become a pioneering integration of blockchain technology and real estate investment in Qatar. Responses submitted within the consultation period will inform any adjustments before the draft law progresses toward formal adoption.