Egyptian proptech leader Nawy has acquired a majority stake in UAE-based SmartCrowd, marking its first expansion into the Gulf real estate sector. This move follows Nawy’s $52 million Series A funding round backed by investors including e& Capital, Partech, March Capital, and Endeavor Catalyst.
Founded in 2018, SmartCrowd is a Dubai Financial Services Authority–regulated platform enabling investors to buy shares in income-generating properties starting at $150. To date, SmartCrowd has facilitated $110 million in transactions and distributed over $40 million in rents and gains to its users. The UAE’s property investment market is projected to reach $33 billion by 2030, fueled by innovations like fractional ownership and tokenization, which Nawy aims to leverage through SmartCrowd’s platform.
By integrating SmartCrowd’s regulated investment engine with its own offerings—including home financing via Nawy Now, fractional investing through Nawy Shares, after-sales support with Nawy Unlocked, and B2B brokerage tools under Nawy Partners—the group now provides a comprehensive pan-MENA real estate ecosystem.
Nawy CEO Mostafa El-Beltagy described SmartCrowd as a natural fit complementing Nawy’s data-driven approach, envisioning a seamless technology-powered journey across property buying, management, and profit generation spanning North Africa and the Gulf.
The acquisition reflects a broader trend of African proptech firms pursuing regional growth through acquisitions rather than organic buildouts, gaining rapid access to GCC investors and regulatory frameworks. The key challenge ahead is integrating Egyptian innovation speed with Dubai’s compliance rigor while maintaining user trust. Success could establish Nawy as a model for cross-regional expansion among emerging-market tech companies.
