Introduction
Dubai’s skyline has always been a conversation between ambition and design — but behind every new tower, district, or prop-tech innovation, there’s a wave of capital and founders redefining what property means.
From digital real-estate platforms and AI-driven brokerages to construction automation and fractional ownership models, the real-estate sector in Dubai is evolving faster than ever. The government’s initiatives — Golden Visa programs, smart-city push, sustainability mandates — have only accelerated the shift.
Here are ten funded real-estate startups and scaleups driving that transformation — who’s leading them, who’s backing them, and where they’re heading next.
1. Stake – Fractional Ownership for the Modern Investor
Founder(s): Rami Tabbara, Manar Mahmassani
Funding: Raised US $14 million Series A in 2024 led by Middle East Venture Partners (MEVP) and BY Ventures.
What they do: Stake allows individuals to invest fractionally in Dubai properties from as little as AED 500. It’s positioned as a retail-investor gateway into prime property.
Why they stand out: Transparent governance, Sharia-compliant models, and fast-growing international investor base.
Next moves: Expand secondary trading, enter Saudi and UK markets, enhance investor app analytics.
2. Huspy – Mortgage Simplified
Founder(s): Jad Antoun, Khalid Anabtawi
Funding: US $37 million Series A led by Sequoia Capital India & Middle East.
What they do: A prop-fintech platform that digitizes mortgage approvals and connects buyers with banks.
Why they stand out: Reduced mortgage-approval time by 70 %; partnerships with over 20 banks in the region.
Next moves: Expanding to Spain and Saudi Arabia while introducing AI-driven loan personalization.
3. StakeStone – Blockchain Real Estate Exchange
Founder(s): Omar Shamma, Ali Khalfan
Funding: US $8 million seed round led by Shorooq Partners and Oasis Capital.
What they do: A blockchain-based marketplace for fractionalized commercial properties, targeting institutional investors.
Why they stand out: Built on DFSA-compliant framework, offering instant asset liquidity.
Next moves: Tokenized funds for logistics assets and maritime warehousing projects.
4. Keyper – Smart Property Management at Scale
Founder(s): Omar Abdin, Mustafa Khalid
Funding: US $6 million pre-Series A in 2024 from Beco Capital and COTU Ventures.
What they do: Tech-driven property management system that automates tenant relations, payments, and maintenance.
Why they stand out: Strong growth in short-term rental management and integration with Dubai Land Department (DLD) APIs.
Next moves: Regional rollout to Abu Dhabi and Riyadh; launch of owner finance dashboards.
5. Urban – The Digital Brokerage for Dubai’s Next Gen Tenants
Founder(s): Tala Samman, Khaled Moussa
Funding: US $9 million Series A led by 500 Global and Nuwa Capital.
What they do: Digitized rental and sales experience for young urban professionals, combining 3D tours, smart contracts, and instant leasing.
Why they stand out: Partnerships with major developers like Emaar and Meraas.
Next moves: Launch subscription-based rental plans and build AI-driven property matching tools.
6. Nomad Homes – Europe to Dubai Expansion Play
Founder(s): Helen Chen, Dan Piehler, Nate Johnson
Funding: US $70 million total funding; latest Series B led by a16z and Abstract Ventures.
What they do: Online real-estate marketplace streamlining buying and selling across EMEA.
Why they stand out: Dubai hub is now their fastest-growing office globally.
Next moves: Integrate mortgage & title services, expand into high-end off-plan market.
7. Realiste – AI Predictive Property Pricing
Founder(s): Alex Galtsev
Funding: US $5 million seed led by ADQ and Dubai Future District Fund.
What they do: Uses AI to value and forecast property prices across Dubai neighbourhoods using real-time data.
Why they stand out: Backed by Dubai’s Smart City Office as an AI export startup.
Next moves: Expand dataset to Riyadh and Abu Dhabi; launch B2B product for developers and banks.
8. PropHero MENA – Investment Advisory as a Service
Founder(s): James Warren, Miquel Amoedo
Funding: US $13 million Series A led by Square Peg Capital.
What they do: AI-assisted real-estate investment platform that helps buyers find, analyze and manage rental properties end-to-end.
Why they stand out: Expanding from Australia to Dubai as their first MENA market.
Next moves: Partner with UAE developers; add data models for rental yield forecasting.
9. SmartCrowd – Regulated Real-Estate Crowdfunding Platform
Founder(s): Siddiq Farid, Hashir Ali, Kiran Sharma
Funding: US $3 million seed and follow-on investment by Shorooq Partners.
What they do: Allows small investors to own shares in Dubai properties via a regulated crowdfunding model.
Why they stand out: First to receive DFSA license in its category; over 4,500 investors from 40 countries.
Next moves: Expand portfolio to off-plan projects and launch a secondary market.
10. KeyOne – Tech-Driven Luxury Property Management
Founder(s): Diarmuid Loughran, Steve Ralph
Funding: Privately held with strategic backing from private equity investors in UAE and UK.
What they do: End-to-end property management for luxury real estate and holiday rentals, blending tech and concierge services.
Why they stand out: High retention rates and bespoke owner dashboards for ROI tracking.
Next moves: Scale into Abu Dhabi and launch a white-label solution for developers.
How to Read These Moves If You’re in Real Estate
Across all ten stories, you see a pattern:
- Capital is now flowing into platforms and data, not just land.
- Regulation and tech integration are no longer optional — they’re foundational.
- Startups that connect buyers, owners, and financiers on one stack are leading the way.
Dubai’s ecosystem has quietly become a playground for real-estate tech innovation — funded locally but scaling globally.
Final Thoughts
Each of these companies is writing a different chapter in Dubai’s real-estate story — fractional ownership, AI valuation, smart management, data-driven investment. The pattern is clear: technology is not disrupting real estate here; it’s enhancing its gravity.
At McArrows, we work with brands and builders operating in this shift — helping them define their product story, amplify their market reach, and scale sustainably. If your company is raising capital or gearing for regional expansion, this is the moment to translate growth into momentum. Let’s build that narrative together.
