Real estate is the world’s largest asset class and one of the least digitized. In the UAE, a wave of proptech startups is determined to change that, blending artificial intelligence (AI) with a booming property market to reimagine how homes and investments are bought, sold, and managed.

“The UAE’s real estate market is vibrant but fragmented. Investors grapple with limited transparency, unreliable data, and manual processes that slow decisions,” says Ranime El Skaff, co-founder of Dubai-based proptech firm Prop-AI.

“Buyers can spend weeks searching without clarity on whether a property is a good deal, while agents struggle to present objective, investor-grade insights. For us, the solution started with data—the foundation that powers everything,” she says.

DATA-DRIVEN DECISIONS

Prop-AI is positioning itself as the “Bloomberg of Real Estate.” Its AI-powered platform integrates over three billion verified data points—including Dubai Land Department records—while analyzing more than 100 factors per property and market. That data infrastructure supports tools for investors, agents, developers, and government entities.

Machine learning is at the heart of the system, processing over 200,000 listings a week, powering a Fair Market Value model, matching properties to investor goals, and enriching financial data. The company raised $1.5 million in 2025 and continues expanding its AI capabilities and partnerships.

Another Dubai-based startup, BrokerDeck, is tackling the same challenge from the brokerage side. With over 1,000 brokers and 138 developers on board, agents have access to real-time, verified off-plan property data.

“Here in the UAE, the market is growing at breakneck speed, and property information often struggles to keep pace. Listings lag and errors in descriptions, layouts, or pricing create noise that wastes brokers’ time,” says founder and CEO Kirill Dolgin. “If a property is listed with us, it truly exists. We also prioritize usability, offering ratings, smart filters, interactive district maps, direct developer contacts, and an event calendar to streamline the experience.”

BrokerDeck’s strongest use of AI is in data validation. “We’ve built a script that acts like a ‘bad cop’, scanning our database, analyzing images, and flagging inconsistencies for our data team,” Dolgin explains.

He adds: “Most [brokers] believe in a future where all property data is just a tap away on your phone. We’re making that future easier to reach.”

EMPOWERING AGENTS, TENANTS, AND LANDLORDS

Other UAE proptechs are targeting the industry’s day-to-day workflows. Coraly.ai, for example, helps agents market listings across multiple portals, automate property ads, and use AI-enhanced photos. 

The company claims its tools save users more than 20 hours a week and help close deals 47% faster. In 2025, it processed over one million listings and 500 million images, serving more than 1,200 real estate professionals across 25 countries.

Rentify, meanwhile, is focused on Dubai’s rental market. The startup offers tenants flexible “rent now, pay later” options and rewards for on-time payments. Landlords get automated rent collection, verified tenants, and data-driven insights—all while eliminating outdated practices like cheque-based payments.

On the investment side, Xploon launched a portal in 2025 to connect buyers directly with developers. Partnering with firms such as Danube, Empire Developments, Ohana Development, and Reportage allows users to browse new projects with flexible payment plans.

GOVERNMENT BACKS THE BOOM

Dubai’s push to become a global proptech hotspot has significantly boosted startups. In July, the city launched the Dubai PropTech Hub, an ecosystem offering incubators and infrastructure for AI-driven business models. Officials expect it to nurture 200 companies, create 3,000 jobs, and attract $300 million in venture capital by 2030.

The growth prospects are strong. Research and Markets estimates that the UAE’s proptech sector, valued at $610 million in 2024, will almost triple to $1.55 billion by 2030, growing at a compound annual rate of nearly 18%.

AGENTS AND DEVELOPERS GO DIGITAL

Established players are also embracing proptech. Abu Dhabi-based agency Crompton Partners has trained its large language model on local real estate laws, projects, and sales processes. 

“We’ve linked it with our Customer Relationship Manager (CRM)—also built in-house—so clients and agents can ask about availability,” says managing partner Ben Crompton. “We’re also working on an automated Calling AI that can follow up to reconfirm appointments, if a unit is still available, and do client qualification.”

At Engel & Völkers Middle East, technology is helping the brokerage move faster in a highly international market.“We’ve built a digital infrastructure that supports more than 140,000 community and property pages globally, including dedicated content for all major neighbourhoods in Dubai,” says CEO Daniel Hadi.

“This gives us a powerful platform to showcase local expertise, drive targeted traffic, and connect with investors and homebuyers.”

Lead management is another area where automation pays off. “By integrating the region’s key property portals into our systems, we’re able to process inquiries faster, reduce manual work, and ensure that every lead is matched with the most relevant advisor, often within minutes,” Hadi explains. “Speed and personalisation are a game-changer in a market as fast-moving as Dubai.”

Developers, too, are digitizing. Grovy Developers, which has a portfolio worth more than AED 700 million, integrates Building Information Management (BIM) technology into its projects.

“On the construction side, we integrate BIM since its 3D models improve collaboration and reduce errors. The models also increase efficiency by providing material costs and estimates, while 3D walkthroughs enhance customers’ journeys by allowing them to explore spaces even before they’re built,” says CEO Abhishek Jalan.

A GLIMPSE INTO THE FUTURE

For Engel & Völkers, the next stage is refining buyer intent. “Innovations like AI-powered lead scoring and virtual property viewings allow us to respond intelligently to buyers, support investors making decisions from abroad, and provide a level of service that reflects our digital capabilities and commitment to excellence,” says Hadi.

“Ultimately, we see proptech as a way to scale what we do best: providing expert, personal advice, backed by data, and delivered with care,” he adds.

El Skaff agrees the industry is heading toward a more transparent and interactive future—where investors and agents rely on data-driven insights, make more independent decisions, and engage with real estate more conversationally. “Over time, this will bring the industry closer to a future where investing in property is as straightforward and efficient as trading stocks.”