Dubai is strategically advancing the widespread adoption of real-world assets (RWAs) on the blockchain. With significant investments from rapidly growing sectors, the UAE is leading the way in understanding decentralized finance (DeFi) and exploring various asset classes that can be replicated on the blockchain.

On Thursday, Dubai-based developer DAMAC Group signed a billion-dollar deal with MANTRA, a blockchain platform specializing in tokenizing real-world assets. This partnership will enable Dubai residents to fractionally own real estate assets valued at $1 billion under the DAMAC banner through MANTRA’s dynamic platform.

This investment aligns with DAMAC’s recent moves into the technology and data center sectors globally. To kick off the new year, DAMAC’s Chairman Hussain Sajwani and US President-elect Donald Trump announced that the real estate giant plans to invest $20 billion in data centers across the US in the near future.

To complement these efforts in the region, MANTRA partnered with MAG Property Development to tokenize real estate assets worth $500 million in Dubai in 2024. The blockchain platform’s growing real-world asset (RWA) offerings in the UAE highlight the nation’s commitment to becoming a global hub for digital assets and the crypto industry.

Amira Sajwani, DAMAC’s Managing Director of Sales and Development, emphasized the developer’s commitment to diversifying its product offerings. “Partnering with MANTRA is a natural extension of our commitment to innovation and forward-thinking solutions,” she added.

With the addition of fractional ownership of real-world assets on the blockchain, facilitated by trailblazing platforms like MANTRA, the UAE is increasingly positioning itself to cement its global footprint in the crypto industry.