September 9, 2025 | Dubai, UAE (The Arabian Wall Street) — Private equity giants Permira and Blackstone have acquired a $525 million minority stake in Dubai-based real estate classifieds company Property Finder, according to a joint statement released Tuesday.
General Atlantic, an investor since 2018, sold part of its stake as part of the deal. The transaction, which is still subject to regulatory approval, will provide Property Finder with access to the global expertise of Permira, Blackstone, and General Atlantic as it scales across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA).
Strategic significance
The investment marks Permira’s first deal in the Middle East, following the recent launch of its office in Dubai’s financial hub. For Property Finder, founded nearly two decades ago, the deal bolsters its competitive edge against rivals such as Dubizzle and Bayut.
In 2024, Property Finder secured $90 million in debt financing from Francisco Partners to buy out its first institutional investor. Since then, it has expanded into Qatar, Bahrain, and Egypt, with new ambitions in Saudi Arabia and Türkiye.
Dubai’s real estate backdrop
The acquisition comes amid Dubai’s post-pandemic real estate boom, fueled by foreign investment and government residency reforms. Residential prices rose nearly 70% between 2020 and 2024, according to Knight Frank. However, momentum may be slowing, with Fitch Ratings forecasting double-digit declines in the housing market in the second half of 2025 and into 2026.
The $525 million deal highlights ongoing investor confidence in Dubai’s proptech ecosystem, even as property valuations face pressure.
