INTERNATIONALReal Estate News

Property Finder secures US$525m investment from global heavyweights

Global private equity giants take a minority stake in Dubaiโ€™s leading property listings platform, signalling confidence in regional real estate despite forecasts of a slowdown.

Dubai-based property listings platform Property Finder has landed a major investment, with private equity giants Permira and Blackstone taking a US $525 million (AUD $798 million) minority stake.

Early investor General Atlantic has partially cashed out but will remain a significant shareholder.

The deal marks Permiraโ€™s first foray into the Middle East, according to Private Equity Insights,ย and gives Property Finder the backing of three global investment firms as it targets further expansion across the region, particularly in Saudi Arabia and Turkey.

Founded nearly 20 years ago, Property Finder has become one of the Middle Eastโ€™s leading online real estate portals, competing with rivals Dubizzle and Bayut.

The platform has been growing steadily, aided by a US$90 million financing deal last year that helped it consolidate ownership.

The investment underscores continued international interest in Dubaiโ€™s real estate market, which has spiked nearly 70 per cent since the pandemic.

However, analysts warn the boom may be cooling, with Fitch Ratings forecasting double-digit price declines from late 2025 into 2026.

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Catherine Nikas-Boulos

Catherine Nikas-Boulos is the Digital Editor at Elite Agent and has spent the last 20 years covering (and coveting) real estate around the country.