If you’ve been dreaming of owning a home in Dubai but weren’t sure where to start, the city just made it easier. A brand-new initiative, launched by the Dubai Land Department (DLD) and the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism (DET), is offering residents a chance to step onto the property ladder with exclusive incentives and support.

Called the First-Time Home Buyer Programme, the initiative is open to all UAE residents aged 18 and above who don’t currently own a freehold home in Dubai. It offers early access to newly launched developments, special prices on homes valued up to Dh5 million, and custom mortgage solutions from leading local banks.

At its core, the programme is designed to make homeownership more accessible and attractive to both Emiratis and expats, encouraging long-term investment and helping residents put down real roots in the city.

Announced during a press conference at DLD, the launch was attended by senior officials, including Majid Al Marri, CEO of the Real Estate Registration Sector at DLD, and Hadi Badri, CEO of the Dubai Economic Development Corporation at DET, along with representatives from top developers and banks.

Here’s what you get as a first-time buyer in Dubai:

• Priority access to upcoming property launches
• Preferential pricing on selected units up to Dh5 million
• Tailored mortgages from banks, including Emirates NBD, Dubai Islamic Bank, Mashreq, and others

Major developers such as Emaar, DAMAC, Nakheel, Azizi, Binghatti, and Meraas are already on board, ensuring a wide selection of properties across the city.

Officials say the programme not only aims to help more residents become homeowners, but also supports Dubai’s long-term economic vision, as part of the Real Estate Strategy 2033 and the D33 Agenda.

“Dubai’s real estate market must reflect the diversity and ambition of its residents,” said Omar Bu Shehab, Director-General of DLD. “This programme opens the door for more people to invest in their futures here.”

Whether you’re a young professional thinking of buying your first apartment or a family looking to make Dubai your permanent base, the First-Time Home Buyer Programme could be your opportunity to finally make that move.

India’s largest steel producer, the Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL), has opened its first representative office in Dubai, a move expected to deepen economic ties with the UAE and unlock new business opportunities across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.

The new office, located at Lake Central in Dubai’s Business Bay, was officially inaugurated by India’s Union Minister for Steel, Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises, HD Kumaraswamy. The launch marks a key step in India’s push to expand the global footprint of its public sector enterprises.

The event was attended by senior dignitaries, including Satish Kumar Sivan, Consul General of India in Dubai; Amarendu Prakash, SAIL’s Chairman and Managing Director; the Joint Secretary of India’s Ministry of Steel; and top officials from MECON, NMDC, and India’s Consulate in Dubai.

“By establishing offices of three major public sector units – SAIL, MECON and NMDC – in the UAE, we are opening a new chapter in bilateral cooperation,” said Minister Kumaraswamy. “This move supports our vision to strengthen CPSEs, backed by the Prime Minister’s strong relationship with the UAE leadership. The region offers tremendous opportunities for Indian manufacturing and steel exports.”

The Dubai office is set to serve as a strategic hub for SAIL, leveraging the city’s status as a gateway to the MENA region. The company currently produces over 20 million tonnes of crude steel annually and is looking to significantly boost exports as part of India’s goal to reach 300 million tonnes of steel production by 2030.

In one of the more bizarre tales of tech tracking and international travel, British YouTuber Miles Routledge, better known online as Lord Miles, has finally recovered a pair of stolen AirPods, a full year after losing them in a Dubai hotel.

The 24-year-old content creator, who’s known for his offbeat adventures, announced on social media that he had travelled to Pakistan to reclaim the missing earbuds, which he first misplaced during a 2023 stay in Dubai.

From Dubai to Jhelum

It all started when Routledge took to social media to share his frustrating experience; his AirPods were stolen while he was waiting for a visa in Dubai. According to him, the earbuds vanished shortly after housekeeping staff entered his hotel room. Using Apple’s “Find My” app, he began tracking the missing device, which eventually led him to a rather unexpected location: near the “2nd Wife Restaurant” in Jhelum, Pakistan.

“They got stolen from my hotel in Dubai and made their way to Pakistan,” he posted on social media. 

“I enabled Lost Mode and kept playing the ‘Find Me’ sound whenever they were in use. I’m going to get a police officer, storm the area, get back my AirPods, and film it all.”

Police Get Involved

After his post went viral, Pakistan’s Jhelum Police took notice. A team was assembled to trace the AirPods, eventually leading to a local man who admitted to having them, but claimed he bought the device in Dubai, unaware they were stolen.

Routledge eventually landed in Pakistan and worked with local authorities to retrieve the AirPods. “An announcement from the Pakistan Jhelum Police Chief, the Inspector General and Lord Miles regarding the stolen AirPods. I have my AirPods back after 1 year,” he wrote on X (formerly Twitter), alongside photos of the retrieval.

Social Media Buzz

The saga has captivated social media users across platforms, with many amused by the lengths the YouTuber went to recover a gadget that retails for less than Dh1,000. Still, for Routledge, it was about the principle more than the price tag.

Routledge thanked the local police for their efforts. He was also treated to lunch at a restaurant, where he was surrounded by media. “There were 20 cameramen and journalists from every Pakistani news channel, turns out this is a national news story. I’ve been recognised several times by strangers,” he wrote in another tweet. 

(Inputs: NDTV, HT)