Stake Raises $14M to Expand into Saudi Arabia and Abu Dhabi
The United Arab Emirates is experiencing a robust real estate market resurgence, with no shortage of buyers eager to invest. In 2024, Dubai's rental prices soared by 23% year-on-year, returning to pre-pandemic levels, while sales increased by 18%, according to Deloitte. This upward trajectory is expected to persist over the coming years.

The United Arab Emirates is experiencing a robust real estate market resurgence, with no shortage of buyers eager to invest. In 2024, Dubai's rental prices soared by 23% year-on-year, returning to pre-pandemic levels, while sales increased by 18%, according to Deloitte. This upward trajectory is expected to persist over the coming years.
This rising demand is also impacting neighboring Abu Dhabi. The city's sovereign wealth fund, Mubadala Investment Company, recently participated in a $14 million Series A funding round for Dubai-based Stake, a fractional property investment platform. Stake plans to bring its services to Abu Dhabi next year.
The Series A round was led by Middle East Venture Partners, with participation from Aramco's Wa’ed Ventures and the private investment platform Republic. Stake, founded in 2020 by Manar Mahmassani, Rami Tabbara, and Ricardo Brizido, aims to use the fresh capital to fuel its international expansion. The majority of the funds will be allocated to entering the Saudi Arabia market in the coming months and expanding to Abu Dhabi next year. Additionally, some funds will be used to offer more investment options in Dubai, such as commercial real estate. To date, Stake has raised a total of $26 million.
For Abu Dhabi, supporting companies like Stake that facilitate easier participation in the real estate market by allowing investors to buy shares in properties is a strategic move to boost investment. The emirate has evolved into a residential hub for people working in Dubai but finding the cost of living in the city too high. This aligns well with Abu Dhabi's long-term strategy to diversify its revenue streams away from oil and gas production.
Stake's investment process is straightforward. Investors can buy a share in a property managed by Stake on behalf of shareholders and earn a portion of the monthly rental income. If the property is sold, investors receive a share of the profit. Stake also provides a secondary market, Exit Windows, where investors can sell their stakes every six months.
Currently, Stake manages over 200 properties with investors from around the world. The majority of its customers are based in the UAE, with significant international customer bases in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. Approximately 12% of its customers are from the U.S., Canada, and the U.K..
Stake has been planning to expand beyond Dubai for some time. The company initially announced its entry into Saudi Arabia and Egypt in 2022 but postponed these plans due to economic volatility. Earlier this year, Stake partnered with the U.S.-based private investment platform Republic to attract more overseas investors.
To entice more international investors, Stake, in collaboration with the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), offers a golden visa (a 10-year renewable residency visa) to investors who commit at least AED 2 million (~$545,000). This program was introduced in 2019 to attract foreign investment to the region, and initiatives like this have reportedly driven real estate investments from foreign nationals in the area.