Proptech's Role in Shaping Dubai's Real Estate Future

Dubai’s real estate market is often viewed through the lens of launches, demand, and new developments. However, a significant shift is taking place alongside this growth. Proptech is moving closer to the core of the market, as companies explore ways to make real estate management easier, more reliable, and more accessible. In a recent episode of the 'Live, Work & Play in Dubai' podcast, Rakesh Mavath, CEO and Co-founder of Takeem, highlighted this transformation, emphasizing the importance of trust in the housing market. “We want to be the trust layer for housing,” Mavath stated.

For Mavath, proptech is not just about creating another app or a better interface. It is about addressing real friction in a market that is already large and active. “We’ve systemized the trust in the whole life cycle of renting,” he explained. This includes ensuring that landlords get paid on time and providing tenants with more flexible payment options. In the last year alone, Takeem has onboarded more than 55,000 units, covering about Dh5 billion in annual rent.

The rental market is a significant part of this broader proptech picture. Mavath noted that 70% of Dubai’s population rents, and rental payments in 2025 are expected to reach Dh126 billion. This scale makes the rental segment crucial not only for housing but also for the platforms, data, and risk tools being developed around it. For a market like Dubai, this indicates that proptech is not just a peripheral element but is becoming central to how the sector operates.

Mavath also discussed the funding environment for proptech in Dubai. Takeem’s backing from Reach Middle East, supported by Second Century Ventures, is a significant signal for the company and the broader industry. He emphasized that proptech was the third-most funded industry last year, highlighting the importance of execution over mere vision. “It’s not about vision; it’s about execution and being able to back up your premise with data and numbers that you have proven,” Mavath said.

Indian investors are also playing a growing role in Dubai’s proptech market, not only as homeowners but also as startup backers. Mavath described them as “very savvy,” “very data-oriented,” and “very transparency-oriented.” Family offices, particularly within the Dubai International Financial Centre ecosystem, are also becoming more active. This reflects a broader shift in Dubai’s real estate market, where value is increasingly created through platforms, transaction systems, and trust layers.

One of the strongest aspects of the conversation was Mavath’s view on how Dubai supports early-stage companies. He believes that regulation should not be seen as a hurdle but as a feature. “If founders can show how their solution supports market stability, the support they receive is immense,” he said. Takeem has engaged with various programs and platforms, such as Create Apps in Dubai, Dubai Sandbox, the Real Estate Evolution Space initiative (REES) by the Dubai Land Department (DLD), and the Dubai PropTech Business Group (DXB PropTech) by the Dubai Chamber of Commerce. These programs reflect the wide range of support available to early-stage proptech firms in Dubai.

Mavath’s advice to founders was to build relationships with regulators early. “Create that relationship with regulators before you need it,” he said. He also emphasized framing every conversation around market stability, which helps align a startup’s goals with the broader market objectives.

Success in Dubai also depends on understanding the market’s culture and building strong, long-term relationships. “Dubai is not a blank canvas where you can bring what you were doing in another country and expect it to work here,” Mavath noted. The relationship economy in Dubai is real, and trust is built over time through face-to-face interactions. Mavath advised businesses to stay customer-focused and patient, emphasizing that “you’ve got to play the long game in Dubai.”

Looking ahead, Mavath believes the next phase of proptech in Dubai will involve connecting rental systems more closely with financial infrastructure. “The next frontier is when rental infrastructure meets financial infrastructure,” he said. This could lead to stronger layers around insurance, credit scoring, and longer-term financial planning. Given that rentals are a major part of Dubai’s real estate market, making renting more stable and trusted can improve the wider sector.

Mavath’s long-term vision is centered on making real estate transactions faster, more transparent, and more dependable. “The gold star would be a market where the anxiety, mistrust, and friction in the whole process are no longer there, and the experience takes just five minutes,” he said. This vision aligns with how Dubai is evolving as a market, where property, payments, data, and digital services are becoming more interconnected. Dubai’s next phase in real estate is defined not only by new developments but by the efficiency and seamlessness of the systems supporting it.