Dubai-based fintech startup Stake has announced the successful closure of a $14 million Series A funding round led by Middle East Venture Partners (MEVP). The round saw participation from prominent investors including Aramco’s Wa’ed Ventures, Mubadala Investment Company, Al Jomaih Holding, and Republic, a US-based investing platform.
This latest funding round brings Stake’s total disclosed financing to over $26 million. The company previously secured $8 million in a pre-Series A round in 2022, led by MEVP and BY Ventures.
Founded in late 2020 by Rami Tabbara and Manar Mahmassani, Stake offers a platform that democratizes real estate investment, allowing individuals worldwide to invest in income-generating properties in the UAE with a minimum investment of $136 (AED 500). Investors on the platform earn income through monthly rental payments and capital appreciation upon selling their shares or the entire property.
Investors can liquidate their shares within Stake’s community during biannual exit windows or wait until the property is fully sold. Since its launch in 2021, Stake has scaled to over 500,000 users from 160 countries and has distributed approximately $4 million in rental income to its users.
Stake is now gearing up to launch its platform in the Saudi market, enabling international investors to purchase fractional shares of local Saudi properties. The startup claims it will be the first digital platform to offer such opportunities to international users.
Rami Tabbara, co-founder and co-CEO of Stake, expressed gratitude towards the investors, stating, “We are grateful to have a top-tier group of investors backing this funding round and placing significant trust in Stake and the future we are building. Having them onboard fortifies our commitment to expanding our product offerings and providing our investors with prime investment opportunities.”
He added, “We believe that the real estate investment process needs to be fully digitized, and we have only started scratching the surface in our vision of making real estate accessible, transparent, borderless, and liquid.”
Co-founder and co-CEO Manar Mahmassani highlighted the growth potential in Saudi Arabia, stating, “KSA is forecast to grow by 6% in 2025, making it one of the fastest-growing G20 economies in the world. We want to give both our local and international users the opportunity to invest early and participate in that growth.”
Mahmassani also emphasized the significance of the funding round for Stake’s expansion, “This raise marks a significant moment in our journey, as we expand into this dynamic new market and partner with amazing new shareholders, including some of the strongest institutional and sovereign investors in the region, to advance our mission of empowering everyone to own and build wealth through real estate.”
Walid Mansour, co-founder & co-CEO of MEVP, praised Stake’s achievements, “What they have achieved in the past 3 years is nothing short of incredible. Their approach to real estate investment is truly innovative and we believe that their talented team, combined with our strategic funding, will propel them to greater success in the region.”
The funds from this round will support Stake’s expansion into Saudi Arabia, enhance its growth in the UAE, and broaden its user base and investment opportunities on the platform.
