Nawy Acquires Majority Stake in SmartCrowd, Expanding GCC Presence

Deal News | Jul 09, 2025 | Zawya

Nawy Acquires Majority Stake in SmartCrowd, Expanding GCC Presence

Nawy, a leading proptech company in Africa backed by e&, has made a significant strategic move by acquiring a majority stake in Dubai-based SmartCrowd. SmartCrowd is known for pioneering fractional property investment in the UAE and enables participation in premium real estate for as little as $150. This acquisition marks Nawy's first major entry into the GCC market, as it expands its real estate services ecosystem, which already includes Nawy Now, Nawy Shares, Nawy Unlocked, and Nawy Partners. The acquisition comes on the heels of Nawy's successful $52 million Series A funding round, positioning the company as a formidable PropTech leader in the Middle East and Africa. SmartCrowd, licensed by the DFSA and part of the DIFC, has facilitated over $110 million in property transactions and $40 million in distributions. The UAE real estate investment sector is expected to reach $33 billion by 2030, driven by advancements such as tokenization and fractional ownership, making it a lucrative expansion for Nawy. The collaboration is poised to create a comprehensive, tech-driven platform for regional real estate investment geared towards increasingly digital investors.

Sectors

  • PropTech
  • Real Estate Investment
  • Financial Technology (FinTech)

Geography

  • United Arab Emirates (UAE) – The article discusses SmartCrowd, which is based in Dubai, UAE, and focuses on real estate investments within the region.
  • Middle East and North Africa (MENA) – Nawy's acquisition marks its expansion within the MENA region, aiming to dominate the PropTech scene across these territories.
  • Africa – Nawy is established as Africa's largest proptech company and is expanding its influence to the MENA region, based on advancements achieved in Africa.

Industry

  • PropTech – PropTech refers to the use of technology in real estate markets. Nawy and SmartCrowd are leveraging technology to innovate and simplify property investments and transactions.
  • Real Estate Investment – The acquisition and activities discussed in the article revolve around real estate investment, including fractional ownership, which is a core aspect of SmartCrowd's offerings.
  • Financial Technology (FinTech) – SmartCrowd's platform and Nawy's expansion include fintech elements such as fractional ownership and digital transactions, transforming real estate investments into more accessible and efficient processes.

Financials

  • $52 million – Amount raised by Nawy in its Series A funding round.
  • US $75 million – Total funds planned to accelerate Nawy's growth across various real estate verticals.
  • $110 million – Total property transactions facilitated by SmartCrowd as of June 2025.
  • $40 million – Total rental income and capital gains distributed by SmartCrowd.
  • 30% – Average return on investment from SmartCrowd's flagship offering, Flip.
  • $33 billion – Projected value of the UAE real estate investment sector by 2030.

Participants

NameRoleTypeDescription
NawyAcquirerCompanyA leading proptech company based in Cairo, Egypt, aiming to revolutionize real estate across the MENA region with technological solutions.
SmartCrowdTargetCompanyDubai-based regulated platform specializing in fractional real estate investments, licensed by the DFSA and part of DIFC.
e& CapitalInvestorCompanyA significant investor in Nawy, supporting its expansion in the proptech sector.
Riz AhmedCEO of SmartCrowdPersonCEO of SmartCrowd, overseeing the company's transition from a startup to a larger scale operation following the acquisition.
Mostafa El-BeltagyCEO of NawyPersonCEO of Nawy, leading the company's expansion and technological integration in real estate.