Property Finder

propertyfinder.ae

Property Finder is a pioneering property portal in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. Established in 2005 by Michael Lahyani, the company provides advanced tools and user experiences for home seekers, real estate brokers, and developers. Property Finder operates in several countries, including the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia and Egypt History: Property Finder was founded in 2005 as a print magazine named Al Bab World in the UAE by Michael Lahyani. In 2007, Australia's REA Group acquired a 51% stake in the company and rebranded it as Property Finder. In 2010, the company was repurchased by Lahyani. In 2012, Property Finder launched Prestige Magazine, a luxury property publication. The company launched its first international website in Qatar in 2012, followed by expansions into Bahrain and Egypt in 2013, Morocco in 2014, and Saudi Arabia in 2019. Since its inception as a web-based property portal, Property Finder has achieved multiple firsts and industry benchmarks: In 2015, Property Finder was the first company to introduce Verified Listings to enhance listing accuracy. In 2019, the company, in collaboration with the Dubai Land Department, launched Mo’asher, Dubai’s official sales price index. In 2020, Property Finder developed PF Flex, the first AI-driven subscription model. In 2022, the company launched Super Agent, the MENA region's first AI-driven agent ranking system. In 2023, Property Finder introduced Data Guru, a comprehensive solution for property seekers, offering valuable data and market insights to empower informed decision-making when searching for rental or sale properties. The same year, Property Finder hosted the Connect 2023 event, gathering UAE real estate industry leaders and also hosted the inaugural annual Property Finder Connect event, gathering UAE real estate industry leaders to share market learnings, best practice and key insights. Operations and Services Property Finder operates a web and app platform across five countries: the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and Egypt. It facilitates over 14 million monthly visits and employs over 600 people across five regional offices. The platform provides real estate listings and services for buying, selling, leasing, and renting properties. The company has developed a reputation for innovation in the proptech sector, launching various innovative tools, including PF Flex, an AI-driven subscription model; Super Agent, an AI-driven agent ranking system; and Data Guru, a proprietary data insights tool for property seekers. Property Finder regularly publishes Market Watch reports to highlight market performance and trends across each country in which it operates. Funding and Acquisitions: Property Finder partnered with Yahoo! Maktoob in 2012, becoming the portal's exclusive real estate partner. Funding: In 2013, Property Finder closed a Series A funding round led by BECO Capital, involving investors from Turkey, Asia, Dubai, and Silicon Valley. In 2016, Sweden-listed investment firm Vostok New Ventures purchased a 10% stake in Property Finder for $20 million. In 2018, Property Finder raised $120 million from US private equity firm General Atlantic to invest in product and technology development. In 2024, Property Finder announced the successful raising of US$90 million in debt financing from Francisco Partners, marking its first regional investment, to facilitate the buyback of shares from BECO Capital. Awards and Recognition: In 2012, the platform won the Arabia Fast Growth 500 Awards. Gulf News featured Property Finder as one of the top 50 MENA leaders in 2023. Most recently, Property Finder was recognised as the best Business Product and Service at the inaugural regional edition of the Best in Business Awards, hosted by Inc Arabia