Property Finder
Sector: Proptech / Online Real Estate Marketplace • Country: UAE
15 October, 2026
This platform has grown from a Dubai property-classifieds business into one of the Middle East’s most established property-technology platforms, connecting consumers, brokers and developers across increasingly digital real estate markets.
The company’s origins date to 2005, when Michael Lahyani launched Al Bab World as a printed property publication in the UAE. The business moved fully online and was renamed propertyfinder.ae in 2007. Lahyani later bought back the stake held by Australia’s REA Group alongside co-founder Renan Bourdeau. Lahyani continues to lead Property Finder as founder and chief executive.
A major financing milestone came in September 2025, when Property Finder secured a $525m investment led by Permira, with participation from Blackstone Growth. Existing investor General Atlantic remained a significant minority shareholder. Property Finder described the transaction as one of the largest technology investment rounds in the region.
The capital is supporting a strategy that extends beyond property listings. Property Finder has increasingly invested in data, technology, artificial intelligence and products intended to serve more stages of the property journey.
Its evolution has included acquisitions and strategic investments. In October 2025, Property Finder invested in digital real estate investment platform Stake, broadening its exposure to fractional property investment and technology-led property ownership.
The company has also worked to improve listing quality and transparency, areas of particular importance in fast-growing property markets where duplicate, outdated or misleading advertisements can weaken consumer trust.
Property Finder’s development mirrors a wider change across real estate portals. The sector is shifting from straightforward classified advertising towards data-driven marketplaces that help consumers evaluate prices, communities, properties and, increasingly, transactions.
For brokers and developers, portals are also becoming technology and data partners rather than simply advertising channels.
The $525m investment therefore represents more than a balance-sheet milestone.
