EXCLUSIVE: Michael Lahyani on Property Finder’s $525M Investment

Dubai, UAE – October 8, 2025: In one of the most significant developments in the regional proptech landscape, Property Finder has secured a $525 million strategic investment from global private equity giants Permira and Blackstone. The deal marks a defining moment not only for Property Finder but also for the entire proptech ecosystem across the Middle East, signaling a strong vote of confidence in the sector’s growing potential.

The Rise of Proptech in the Middle East

Over the past decade, proptech — the integration of technology into real estate services — has evolved from a niche concept into a major driving force of the property market. Platforms like Property Finder have transformed the way people buy, sell, and rent homes, making property searches more transparent, data-driven, and efficient.

With the regional real estate market maturing rapidly and attracting record global investment, proptech has become a critical enabler of growth. From AI-powered listings to data analytics tools that enhance decision-making, these technologies are redefining the user experience while promoting trust and transparency across the ecosystem.

The Need for Continued Investment in Proptech

As real estate markets across the Gulf become increasingly sophisticated, investment in proptech has become essential. The sector’s expansion is no longer about digital listings alone, it’s about building intelligent, transparent, and scalable ecosystems that empower home seekers, brokers, and developers alike.

The recent Property Finder investment demonstrates a growing recognition among international investors that technology is the future of real estate in the Middle East. Strategic backing from institutions like Permira and Blackstone not only fuels innovation but also helps align the regional market with global best practices.

From Humble Beginnings to Regional Leadership

Founded in 2007 by Michael Lahyani, Property Finder began as a printed real estate directory before transitioning into a digital platform, pioneering online property listings in the UAE. Today, it is one of the largest proptech companies in the MENA region, with operations spanning the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Qatar, Bahrain, and Turkey.

The company’s success has been built on one defining principle — trust. By ensuring verified listings, transparent data, and a commitment to user experience, Property Finder has become synonymous with reliability in an industry where credibility is key.

Exclusive Interview with Michael Lahyani, Founder and CEO of Property Finder

Following the landmark investment, Property News International sat down with Michael Lahyani, Founder and CEO of Property Finder, to discuss what this milestone means for the company, the proptech sector, and the broader real estate landscape in the region.

What does this strategic investment mean for Property Finder’s growth plans, particularly in Saudi Arabia and Turkey?

Our recent strategic investment provides us with added momentum and global expertise, ensuring we’re well-positioned to capture opportunities. That said, we remain focused on all our markets, notably the UAE, which continues to be our core and most advanced market.

Saudi Arabia and Turkey are both exciting markets, though very different from the UAE. In Saudi, the key will be the growth of secondary transactions — and that doesn’t happen overnight. Encouragingly, the Kingdom has recently opened primary sales to non-Saudi nationals, something the UAE pioneered more than 20 years ago. With Dubai as a model, we believe the Saudi market will mature in a shorter timeframe but that it will still take some time.

In Turkey, our footprint continues to expand, and we are delighted with the performance of Hurriyet Emlak, our business there. As in any market, timing is critical — knowing when to lean in more heavily will make the difference between simply entering and truly succeeding.

How does Property Finder plan to maintain its focus on “trust” as a differentiator while scaling further?

Trust is the foundation of why home seekers, sellers, investors, partners, and agents choose Property Finder. It underpins everything we do, from ensuring that listings are genuinely available to providing reliable data that guides better decisions and makes our partners’ jobs easier.

It may sound simple, but delivering trust at scale is one of the hardest things in our industry, and it’s exactly why both consumers and professionals continue to place their confidence in us. As we scale, we continue to invest in technology, AI, and talent.

Property Finder’s AI insights, for example, are built on more than two decades of industry expertise, ensuring home seekers find their ideal home through a trusted platform. As a consumer-centric organization, our technology is designed to evolve with our consumers’ and customers’ needs and deliver a seamless experience supporting one of life’s most important decisions, whether renting, buying, or investing.

What message would you like to share with your users, partners, and the wider real estate community following this milestone?

Our latest investment is a clear signal of confidence in both the MENA region and the role Property Finder plays within it. The partnership brings fresh momentum and the support of long-term investors who share our vision for the future.

With Permira and Blackstone joining General Atlantic, we now have access to world-class expertise and global best practices. For our partners and agents, that means we are better equipped to create value, deliver innovative solutions, and continue building a more transparent and trusted property ecosystem across the region.

A Defining Moment for Regional Proptech

Our latest investment is a clear signal of confidence in both the MENA region and the role Property Finder plays within it. The partnership brings fresh momentum and the support of long-term investors who share our vision for the future.

With Permira and Blackstone joining General Atlantic, we now have access to world-class expertise and global best practices.

For our partners and agents, that means we are better equipped to create value, deliver innovative solutions, and continue building towards our shared purpose to change living for good in the region.