Property Finder Announces $525 Million Strategic Investment Led by Permira, Reinforcing the Company’s Position as a Leading Classified Property Platform in the MENA Region; Blackstone Provides Significant Capital Into the Investment, and General Atlantic Continues as Significant Investor

Dubai, UAE; 9 September 2025 – Property Finder, a leading property portal in the Middle East and North Africa, today announced a combined total investment of $525 million in the Company led by funds advised by Permira. Funds managed by Blackstone Growth are investing significant capital into the transaction. The combined investment represents a meaningful minority stake and reaffirms Property Finder’s position as a market leader and technology innovator in MENA’s fast-growing property classifieds market.

As part of the transaction, General Atlantic, which has been a cornerstone shareholder of Property Finder since 2018, has sold part of its stake while retaining a significant minority shareholding. Together, Permira, Blackstone and General Atlantic bring global expertise and a track record of investing in leading online classifieds businesses. Their participation reflects the confidence of three global investment firms in Property Finder’s significant potential to grow in the large and fast-developing property classifieds marketplace in the UAE and across MENA.

Property Finder operates the MENA region’s largest and most preferred property portal . The UAE property market, the largest market for Property Finder, is worth c.$160 billion in 2024 and is projected to grow c.13% over the next five years. Property Finder has consistently transformed and improved how people buy, sell, and rent homes in the region through its comprehensive listings inventory, trusted user experience, and suite of innovative products powered by technology and AI.

Michael Lahyani, CEO and Founder of Property Finder, said:

“This partnership represents a defining moment in Property Finder’s journey. By welcoming Permira and Blackstone alongside General Atlantic as strategic investors, we are accelerating our mission to reshape real estate across the region through technology, AI, and an industry leading property platform. This investment is a clear vote of confidence in Property Finder, in the UAE, and in the vast opportunity ahead. I want to thank our customers and partners, users, regulators, and the incredible Property Finder team whose dedication continues to fuel our growth story.”

David Erlong, Partner, Global Co-Head Consumer at Permira, said:

“We are delighted to partner with Property Finder, a market leader in one of the most dynamic property markets. This investment builds on our track record of backing leading digital platforms with powerful network effects and deep consumer engagement. Property Finder’s scale, technology, and brand trust creates a strong platform to capture long-term growth as the MENA real estate sector digitises. For Permira, this investment in the region – following the opening of our Dubai representative office – underscores both our conviction in the market opportunity and our confidence in the significant growth potential of the business, led by an exceptional management team.”

Robert Hou, Vice President at Permira, added:

“We are excited to be supporting Property Finder´s management team given the sustainable, structural drivers fuelling the growth of Property Finder going forward, and to bring global best practices to support the company’s continued expansion across the MENA region.”

Paul Morrissey, Senior Managing Director at Blackstone Growth, said:

“We are excited to partner with Property Finder, a clear market leader with a strong track record of innovation in the MENA region’s property sector. This investment reflects our confidence in the company’s growth potential and our commitment, together with Permira and General Atlantic, to supporting its mission to make property search and transactions more seamless for consumers and partners alike. It also underscores Blackstone’s long-term conviction to invest in high-quality businesses across the region.”

Chris Caulkin, Managing Director and Head of Technology for General Atlantic in EMEA, commented:

“We are proud to have supported Property Finder’s journey for over six years, helping it flourish into a leader in MENA’s classified property marketplace. Today’s transaction allows us to crystallise part of the value created, while importantly, we remain strongly invested in Property Finder´s future. Property Finder is well positioned to continue its growth trajectory, and we look forward to partnering with Permira and Blackstone to unlock the next phase of expansion for Michael and the team.”

Permira, Blackstone and General Atlantic are global investors with strong track records in online classifieds, including strategic investments in Adevinta ASA, one of the world’s largest classifieds platforms, and another example of a successful investment partnership between the three firms.

Today’s transaction will enable Property Finder to leverage both Permira and Blackstone’s international expertise, alongside General Atlantic’s global network, as it further scales its platform, expands into new markets, and captures emerging opportunities across MENA’s dynamic real estate sector.

This transaction remains subject to customary approvals. J.P. Morgan acted as sole placement agent to Property Finder and General Atlantic on the transaction. Moelis & Company served as Independent Financial Advisor to Property Finder, with Axis Arbor Partners LLP acting as Debt Advisor. Cooley LLP acted as Legal Advisor to Michael Lahyani. Citigroup Global Markets Limited acted as sole advisor and Clifford Chance as Legal Advisor to Permira. Weil, Gotshal & Manges LLP were Legal Advisors for General Atlantic. Dechert acted as Legal Advisor to Blackstone.

Contacts

Property Finder
Jade Mamarbachi / Ibrahim Anabtawi
[email protected]

Permira
Vanessa Maydon / James Williams
[email protected]

Blackstone
Rebecca Flower
[email protected]

General Atlantic
Jess Gill / Sara Widmann
[email protected]

About Property Finder
Property Finder is a leading property portal in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, dedicated to shaping an inclusive future for real estate while spearheading the region’s growing tech ecosystem. At its core is a clear and powerful purpose: To change living for good in the region. Founded on the value of great ambitions, Property Finder connects millions of property seekers and sellers with thousands of real estate professionals every day. The platform offers a seamless and enriching experience, empowering sellers, buyers, investors and renters to make informed decisions.
Since its inception in 2007, Property Finder has evolved into a trusted partner and a lighthouse tech company, it continues to create an environment where people can thrive and contribute meaningfully to the transformation of real estate in MENA.

About Permira
Permira is a global investment firm that backs successful businesses with growth ambitions. Founded in 1985, the firm advises funds across two core asset classes, private equity and credit, with total committed capital of approximately €80bn. The Permira private equity funds make both long-term majority (Buyout) and minority (Growth Equity) investments in four key sectors: Technology, Consumer, Healthcare and Services.
Permira has a deep focus on internet, classified portals and online marketplaces including Adevinta, Allegro, Boats Group, LegalZoom and Squarespace. Permira employs over 500 people in 17 offices across Europe, the United States, Asia and the Middle East. For more information, visit www.Permira.com.

About Blackstone
Blackstone is the world’s largest alternative asset manager. Blackstone seeks to deliver compelling returns for institutional and individual investors by strengthening the companies in which the firm invests. Blackstone’s $1.2 trillion in assets under management include global investment strategies focused on real estate, private equity, credit, infrastructure, life sciences, growth equity, secondaries and hedge funds. Further information is available at www.blackstone.com. Follow @blackstone on LinkedIn, X (Twitter), and Instagram.

About General Atlantic
General Atlantic is a leading global investor with more than four and a half decades of experience providing capital and strategic support for over 830 companies throughout its history. Established in 1980, General Atlantic continues to be a dedicated partner to visionary founders and investors seeking to build dynamic businesses and create long-term value. Guided by the conviction that entrepreneurs can be incredible agents of transformational change, the firm combines a collaborative global approach, sector-specific expertise, a long-term investment horizon, and a deep understanding of growth drivers to partner with and scale innovative businesses around the world. The firm leverages its patient capital, operational expertise, and global platform to support a diversified investment platform spanning Growth Equity, Credit, Climate, and Sustainable Infrastructure strategies. General Atlantic manages approximately $114 billion in assets under management, inclusive of all strategies, as of June 30, 2025, with more than 900 professionals in 20 countries across five regions. For more information on General Atlantic, please visit: www.generalatlantic.com.

¹ Source: Leading third party consultancy market study
² Source: Property Finder UAE B2B survey (March 2025), where 78% of customers selected Property Finder as their preferred property portal
³ Source: Leading third party consultancy market study. 3.67 USD / AED; based on real estate transaction value