London-listed luxury real estate developer DarGlobal has confirmed that it is working toward a three-month timeline to launch the tokenisation of the Trump International Hotel Maldives, positioning the development as the world’s first fully tokenised hotel project introduced at the construction stage. The USD 300 million project is being structured as a regulated, asset-backed investment product, with the company currently finalising the necessary legal and regulatory framework in close coordination with the digital assets arm of London Stock Exchange Group, which introduced its Digital Markets Infrastructure platform in September 2025.
Speaking in an interview with Arabian Business, DarGlobal Chief Executive Officer Ziad El Chaar said the company is approaching the final stages of preparing the product for market. He noted that extensive work is underway to ensure the structure meets regulatory expectations and reflects the fact that the tokens will be directly backed by a tangible hospitality asset. The initiative is designed as an investment product rather than a speculative digital token, aiming to combine the transparency and efficiency of blockchain technology with the stability of high-quality real estate.
The Maldives development, first announced in November 2025, represents a departure from traditional real estate tokenisation models that typically focus on completed and income-generating properties. Instead, DarGlobal is offering investors exposure to the development phase itself, enabling token holders to participate as partners alongside the developer. This structure is intended to capture the higher return potential associated with real estate development, which El Chaar indicated is essential for making projects of this scale commercially viable.
Located approximately 25 minutes by speedboat from Malé, the Trump International Hotel Maldives will feature around 80 ultra-luxury beach and overwater villas, combining contemporary design with the natural beauty for which the Maldives is globally renowned. The resort is scheduled to open by the end of 2028 and is expected to appeal to high-end travellers seeking privacy, exclusivity, and premium lifestyle experiences in one of the world’s most sought-after island destinations.
Under the proposed structure, DarGlobal will retain a 30 to 40 percent stake in the project, while the remaining equity will be made available through blockchain-based tokens priced at USD 1,000 each. This approach significantly lowers the entry barrier compared to conventional real estate funds, which often require minimum investments of USD 50,000 or more. The company expects the tokenised format to enhance liquidity and accessibility, while providing investors with clear, verifiable ownership records on the blockchain.
The selection of the Maldives as the inaugural project reflects the country’s long-standing reputation for delivering strong hospitality investment performance. El Chaar emphasised that resorts located close to the main international gateway have historically generated attractive returns, making the destination well suited for pioneering a new investment model that blends digital innovation with physical assets.
DarGlobal’s initiative aligns with a broader global trend toward the tokenisation of real-world assets. According to Deloitte, the tokenisation market is forecast to reach USD 4 trillion by 2035, growing at an annual rate of 27 percent from under USD 300 billion in 2024. If the Maldives project proves successful, DarGlobal plans to replicate the model across its wider international portfolio, including developments with the Trump Organisation in the Gulf region and a pipeline of USD 10 billion worth of projects in Saudi Arabia, following the kingdom’s move to open its real estate sector to foreign investors.
For global investors, the Trump International Hotel Maldives tokenisation initiative represents a convergence of luxury hospitality, emerging financial technology, and one of the world’s most resilient tourism markets. The project underscores DarGlobal’s ambition to position itself at the forefront of innovation in real estate investment, while reinforcing the Maldives’ status as a premier destination for high-value, future-focused developments.
advertisment
advertisment
