UAE-Based Property Finder Secures US$525 Million Investment From Permira And Blackstone

UAE-based real estate classifieds platform Property Finder has secured a US$525 million strategic investment from Permira, a London-based global investment firm specializing in buyout, growth equity, and credit funds, and Blackstone Inc., an American alternative investment management company headquartered in New York City.

The deal, subject to regulatory approvals, represents Permira’s first investment in the Middle East. General Atlantic, a New York-headquartered global growth equity firm that first backed Property Finder in 2018, has partially exited the business, but it remains a minority shareholder. 

Founded in the UAE in 2007, Property Finder is a marketplace that allows users to search and filter properties for sale and rent. It has since grown into one of the Middle East’s largest real estate classifieds platforms, and it currently has an eye on deepening its presence in Saudi Arabia and Turkey. 

Speaking to Inc. Arabia, Michael Lahyani, founder and CEO of Property Finder, said the $525 million deal that Property Finder has secured isn’t just about capital—it’s about validation. “We’re incredibly proud to welcome global investors such as Permira, Blackstone, and General Atlantic to Property Finder," he said. "Their involvement is not only a strong vote of confidence in our business, but also in the UAE and the exceptional opportunities ahead.” 

Bringing in Permira and Blackstone also means that Property Finder has investors on board that understand the nuances of the sector it operates in. “Classifieds are very different from software or e-commerce businesses, and having ‘smart money’ with deep sector knowledge significantly increases the odds of success,” Lahyani explained. “Permira and Blackstone already partner with General Atlantic in Adevinta, the largest classifieds group in Europe, which means our three investors have proven experience working together and have built expertise at scale in this space.” 

Lahyani is also of the opinion that the new partnerships will open doors well beyond financing. “This partnership will further elevate our profile in terms of the talent we want to attract, and the governments and regulators we work with," he said. "It’s the next step in our journey, which is underpinned by our purpose to change living for good in the region.” 

When asked about what sets Property Finder apart from its competitors in the market, Lahyani was unequivocal about the differentiator. “One word: trust," he said. "It’s the reason home seekers, sellers, investors, partners, and agents choose Property Finder. Trust underpins everything from showing properties that are truly available, not duplicates they’ve already seen elsewhere, to a seamless service with trusted data to help guide your decisions and make your job easier. It sounds simple, but it’s one of the hardest things to deliver, and it’s exactly why consumers and our partners put their trust in us.” 

The investment from Permira and Blackstone comes on the heels of a $90 million debt financing from the San Francisco–based global private equity firm Francisco Partners in 2024, which enabled Property Finder to buy out its first institutional investor, UAE-based BECO Capital. It also signals continued investor appetite for digital real estate platforms at a time when Dubai’s property market is buoyed by foreign investment and government reforms. 

Looking ahead, Lahyani believes that Dubai, where Property Finder has deep roots, will remain the epicenter of the regional property boom, although he noted that there are new areas of promise. “The UAE property market was worth c.$160 billion in 2024, and so, it continues with demand, investment, and innovation all converging here," he said. "That said, Dubai isn’t a phenomenon you see every year. I’ve been in the UAE for 20 years and haven’t witnessed another city of its kind in the making. If you ask me what’s next, Ras Al Khaimah has the potential to become a remarkable market, though it will take time and resilience to reach the stability Dubai enjoys today. I also see strong potential in micro-markets like Saadiyat Island in Abu Dhabi, which has its own unique dynamics. Beyond the UAE, we are still some way from seeing the same level of foreign direct investment that flows into this country.” 

Lahyani also pointed to Saudi Arabia and Turkey, where Property Finder already operates, as being representative of very different kinds of opportunities. “In Saudi Arabia, the key will be the growth of secondary transactions, and that doesn’t happen overnight,” Lahyani said, while also noting that recent reforms like allowing primary sales to non-Saudi nationals—an approach the UAE adopted a quarter of a century ago—are quickly changing the dynamics of the Saudi market. “In Turkey, our footprint continues to expand, and we’re constantly evaluating the right level of investment," he added. "For both markets, timing is critical, knowing when to lean in more heavily will make the difference between simply entering and truly succeeding."

Peering into the future, Lahyani envisions a radically more digital and transparent real estate landscape. “I believe the next five years will bring more transformation in how people search for and transact property. Technology will remove some of the friction, from artificial intelligence-powered recommendations, to more seamless digital transactions that cut down the time and paperwork involved today. Transparency will be non-negotiable: every listing verified, every step traceable, giving buyers and sellers far greater confidence. At Property Finder, our role will be to lead that change by not just making the search easier, but by building trusted infrastructure that enables the entire ecosystem of consumers, brokers, developers, and regulators to thrive.”

Pictured in the lead image is Michael Lahyani, founder and CEO of Property Finder. Image courtesy Property Finder.