Africa’s largest proptech Nawy acquires majority stake in Dubai’s SmartCrowd

Nawy, a prominent African proptech firm backed by e&, has officially marked its entry into the GCC market by acquiring a majority stake in SmartCrowd. This move grants Nawy access to the UAE’s first regulated platform that enables fractional ownership of real estate, setting the stage for deeper integration into the region’s rapidly evolving property investment ecosystem.

Fueling Growth with a Powerful Capital Raise

The acquisition follows Nawy’s recent success in closing a substantial $52 million Series A funding round. The raise drew investment from an impressive roster, including e& Capital, Partech, March Capital Investments, Endeavor Catalyst, DPI via the Nclude Fund, Shorooq Partners, VentureSouq, Outliers, Verod-Kepple Africa Ventures, HOF Capital, and Plug and Play. In total, Nawy has secured $75 million to propel its expansion across key real estate segments such as digital listings, mortgage services, brokerage, and now, fractional investment opportunities.

Expanding Capabilities Through Acquisitions

Earlier this year, Nawy made headlines by acquiring ROA, an asset management and home finishing startup. The company has since been relaunched as Nawy Unlocked and now plays a central role in what will become Nawy’s upcoming property super-app. This expansion reflects Nawy’s strategy of integrating vertical services under a single digital platform to streamline the real estate journey for users.

Strengthening Presence in the GCC

With SmartCrowd now under its umbrella, Nawy gains a critical advantage in the Gulf region. Based in Dubai, SmartCrowd has been a pioneer in fractional property investment since its founding in 2018. It allows users to invest in high-quality, income-generating real estate starting from just $150, opening access to property investment for a much broader audience.

SmartCrowd’s Market Performance and Reach

To date, SmartCrowd has facilitated over $110 million in real estate transactions and distributed upwards of $40 million in rental yields and capital gains. Its platform serves investors from more than 130 countries and has seen more than 50 successful property exits as of June 2025. These milestones underscore its strong track record and credibility as a platform delivering tangible investor returns.

Innovation in Real Estate Investment

Among its standout offerings is Flip, a SmartCrowd program that acquires and upgrades undervalued properties before reselling them within roughly 15 months. As of June 2025, Flip has yielded an average return on investment of 30%, offering both innovation and performance in a traditionally conservative asset class.

UAE’s Real Estate Landscape Poised for Transformation

The UAE’s real estate investment sector is anticipated to grow significantly, reaching a projected value of $33 billion by 2030. This growth is being fueled by emerging trends such as tokenization, fractional investment models, and increased cross-border investor participation. For Nawy, this moment presents a timely opportunity to deepen its regional influence.

“This is a transformative transaction for SmartCrowd, joining forces with Nawy to build the region’s premier PropTech ecosystem,” added Riz Ahmed, CEO of SmartCrowd. “With strong alignment in vision and culture, this partnership accelerates our transition from startup to scale-up, making us the go-to platform for real estate investment in the Middle East.”

“SmartCrowd’s platform gives us a proven investment engine built on trust, performance, and regulatory strength,” said Mostafa ElBeltagy, CEO of Nawy. “The perfect match for Nawy’s tech-first approach to real estate. Together, we’re unlocking a new era of seamless property investment across MENA: data-driven, accessible, and built for today’s digital investor.”

An Expanding PropTech Ecosystem

Nawy’s platform now includes several core offerings: Nawy Now for home financing, Nawy Shares for fractional ownership, Nawy Unlocked for property enhancement, and Nawy Partners for brokerage services. The addition of SmartCrowd further strengthens this ecosystem, allowing users to buy, manage, and earn from real estate across the broader MENA region—all through a unified, tech-driven interface.

A Rising Force in Regional PropTech

With a user base exceeding one million per month and a gross merchandise value surpassing $3 billion to date, Nawy is rapidly establishing itself as a transformative force in the Middle East and Africa’s PropTech landscape. Its strategic acquisitions and robust funding foundation are helping reshape how real estate is accessed, managed, and monetized in the region.