As the UAE’s largest real estate portal, Bayut gets a front-row seat to the dynamic evolution of the real estate market in the country. It provides a seamless property search experience, pioneering PropTech in the UAE and in the region. Over the years, the company has also linked up with key government entities to further improve its platform.
In this interview, Haider Khan, CEO at Bayut, talks about the company’s milestones and key initiatives aimed at empowering customers in their real estate journeys — whether they’re buying, selling, or renting property in the UAE.
You have recently completed 10 years as the CEO of Bayut. What are the key milestones from your journey, and how has your leadership shaped Bayut’s growth and development?
Ten years might sound like a long time, but honestly, I’ve loved every minute of it. Building something we’re deeply passionate about has been an incredible journey. Today, Bayut is a name recognized across households, known for constantly pushing boundaries and playing a significant role in the growth of Dubai’s dynamic real estate industry. None of this would have been possible without the dedication and hard work of so many talented people who’ve poured their hearts into building something truly remarkable.
I’ve always believed that finding the right talent and giving them the opportunity to thrive is key to any organization’s success. At Bayut, we’ve stayed laser-focused on creating the best property search experience in the UAE, and we’ve never let anything pull us away from that mission.
Over the years, we’ve solidified our position as market leaders by introducing innovative products like Dubai Transactions, TruEstimate™, and TruBroker™. Even during the height of the pandemic, we made an important decision to merge with dubizzle to form a market-leading homegrown unicorn. And together as part of the Dubizzle Group, we’ve continued to go from strength to strength.
These achievements are rooted in a culture of innovation, ownership, collaboration, and putting the customer first. My philosophy has always been about pushing the envelope and creating meaningful, transformative change in the industry, and that’s a journey we’re just getting started on.
Bayut has played a significant role in reshaping the UAE’s real estate market with cutting-edge technologies and tools. How have these solutions addressed market challenges and enhanced the overall experience for users?
At Bayut, our focus has always been on tackling local challenges head-on and creating solutions that make a difference. The UAE’s real estate market is fast-paced and dynamic, but like any growing market, it comes with its own set of challenges around transparency, trust, and efficiency. That’s where we’ve really aimed to make an impact with our user-first approach.
Take our patented authentication solution TruCheck™, for instance — it’s designed to prioritize genuine listings, giving buyers peace of mind and fostering trust across the board. And with TruBroker™, we’ve made it easier than ever for buyers to connect with trusted agents who can guide them through the process. This kind of transparency is extremely important for establishing Dubai as a leading global real estate hub where investors and buyers across the world can come and invest in confidence.
At the end of the day, our goal is to ensure that every user — whether they’re buying, selling, or renting — feels informed, empowered, and confident in their decisions. That’s the kind of impact we strive for every day at Bayut.
Under your leadership, Bayut has evolved from a real estate platform to a proptech market leader. What are the key strategies to this transformation, and how do you ensure Bayut stays ahead in the fast-changing proptech landscape?
Our journey to becoming a proptech market leader in the region has been driven by three core strategies: Relentless innovation, data-driven insights, and meaningful partnerships.
We’ve consistently invested in advanced technologies like AI and machine learning to create personalized, intuitive experiences for our users, whether it’s through our innovative tools for property seekers or our industry solutions. Collaborating with key government entities, like the Dubai Land Department and Abu Dhabi Real Estate Center, has been another game-changer for us. These partnerships have allowed us to integrate official data into our platform, delivering even greater transparency and value to users. A good example of this is what we have accomplished with TruEstimateTM, our instant property valuation solution endorsed by DLD. This gives an in-depth look into how properties are performing, equipping the seller, buyer, and agent to have realistic expectations, backed by actual transactional data. The uncertainty and fear around major financial decisions can be effectively circumvented with such an approach.
For us, it’s not just about keeping up — it’s about setting the pace and shaping the future of real estate in the region.
The UAE’s real estate market has seen significant shifts in recent years. What are your expectations for the industry in 2025 and beyond, and how is Bayut preparing to align with evolving trends and customer demands?
The UAE’s real estate market has experienced incredible growth over the years. This year, we saw over AED500 billion in transactions in Dubai alone and I’m confident this momentum will continue well into 2025 and beyond.
Several key factors are driving this trajectory, including population expansion, forward-thinking government initiatives, and a balanced demand for both luxury and affordable properties. The UAE has also proved its resilience as a market, emerging as a strong economy while established markets both in the East and West have struggled to gain momentum following the pandemic-induced downturn. This is a testament to what good governance, effective problem-solving, and an openness to innovation can achieve.
As we look ahead, I see the industry becoming increasingly data-driven, with technology playing a transformative role in streamlining transactions and empowering informed decision-making. Tools and platforms that leverage data analytics, AI, and machine learning will be at the forefront, enabling a level of transparency and efficiency that hasn’t been seen before.
At Bayut, we’ve already laid a strong foundation to align with these trends. Our focus is on delivering innovative solutions that are reliable, scalable, and user-centric. We’re also keeping a close eye on evolving customer preferences, ensuring that we’re not just meeting expectations but exceeding them. By continuing to innovate and adapt, Bayut is well-positioned to not only align with the future of the UAE’s real estate market but to help shape it, creating lasting value for both our users and the industry as a whole.
