Cairo-based proptech startup Nawy has acquired a majority stake in Dubai-based SmartCrowd, marking its official entry into the GCC market. The move comes just weeks after Nawy announced a $75 million Series A fundraise led by e& Capital, with participation from global and regional investors including Partech, March Capital, and Shorooq Partners. The financial details of the acquisition were not disclosed.
SmartCrowd, regulated by Dubai Financial Services Authority (DFSA), is known for pioneering fractional real estate investment in the region, allowing users to co-invest in income-generating properties with as little as $150. Since its launch in 2018, the platform claims to have facilitated $110 million in transactions and distributed over $40 million in returns, serving users from more than 130 countries.
This deal gives Nawy a foothold in Dubai and expands its offering, which now spans property listings, mortgage financing, brokerage, fractional ownership, and asset enhancement. It’s also the latest step in Nawy’s strategy to become a real estate super app for the MENA region.
Nawy co-founder and CEO Mostafa El-Beltagy called the acquisition a “perfect match” for its tech-first approach. “Together, we’re unlocking a new era of seamless property investment across MENA,” he said.
SmartCrowd’s CEO Riz Ahmed added that joining Nawy helps accelerate its transition from startup to scale-up, building what the companies hope will be the region’s go-to platform for real estate investment.
Earlier this year, Nawy also acquired ROA, a home finishing and asset management startup, rebranding it as Nawy Unlocked. The company says its platform now supports over 1 million monthly users and has recorded more than $3 billion in GMV to date.
- Saudi’s Orbii raises $3.6 million in Prosus-led seed to help banks and fintechs launch SME lending - September 8, 2025
- Egypt’s TradeHub shuts down, returns remaining capital to investors after failing to achieve product-market fit - September 7, 2025
- Dubai’s WheelsOn raises $12.5 million in debt and equity for its deposit-free car rental platform - September 7, 2025
