===============================================================================

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                              --------------------

                                    FORM 8-A

                FOR REGISTRATION OF CERTAIN CLASSES OF SECURITIES
                    PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(B) OR 12(G) OF THE
                         SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

                              --------------------

                         NUVEEN REAL ESTATE INCOME FUND
             (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)

             MASSACHUSETTS                             APPLIED FOR
        (State of Incorporation                      (I.R.S. Employer
           or Organization)                         Identification No.)

                              333 West Wacker Drive
                             Chicago, Illinois 60606
                    (Address of Principal Executive Offices)

                    ----------------------------------------

     If this form relates to the registration of a class of securities pursuant
to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act and is effective pursuant to General
Instruction A.(c), check the following box. [X]

     If this form relates to the registration of a class of securities pursuant
to Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act and is effective pursuant to General
Instruction A.(d), check the following box. [_]

     Securities Act registration statement file number to which this form
relates: 333-68948.

     Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

           Title Of Each Class            Name Of Each Exchange On Which
           To Be So Registered            Each Class Is To Be Registered
        ---------------------------       ------------------------------
        Share of beneficial interest      American Stock Exchange, Inc.
        $0.01 par value per share

     Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

                                      NONE
                    ----------------------------------------
                                (Title of Class)

================================================================================



Item 1.  Description of Registrant's Securities to be Registered.

     The shares (the "Shares") to be registered hereunder are shares of
beneficial interest, $0.01 par value per share of Nuveen Real Estate Income Fund
(the "Registrant"). A description of the Shares is contained under the heading
"Description of Shares" in the prospectus included in the Registrant's
registration statement on Form N-2 and under the heading "Description of Shares"
in the statement of additional information attached thereto, each filed under
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the Investment Company Act of 1940,
as amended, on September 5, 2001 (Registration Nos. 333-68948 and 811-10491,
respectively), which description is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 2.  Exhibits.

     Pursuant to the Instructions as to Exhibits, no exhibits are filed herewith
or incorporated herein by reference.

                                   SIGNATURES

     Pursuant to the requirements of Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this registration statement to be signed
on its behalf by the undersigned, thereto duly authorized.

Dated:   October 9, 2001


                                        NUVEEN REAL ESTATE INCOME FUND


                                        By: /s/ Larry W. Martin
                                            ---------------------------
                                                Larry W. Martin
                                                Vice President and
                                                Assistant Secretary