Dubizzle Group & Tern: Rewarding rent payments
Dubizzle Group has announced a strategic partnership and investment in Tern, a UAE-based rental reward platform. The deal was made through Dubizzle Group Ventures, the company’s venture capital division investing in early-stage tech startups across the GCC.
The Dubizzle Group Tern investment is an example of venture capital in proptech, with Tern real estate technology designed to make rent payments more rewarding for tenants.
How the Tern Integration Works
Tern will be integrated exclusively into Bayut and dubizzle. Tenants will be able to pay rent by credit card and earn Tern Rewards points, redeemable across a network of retail, travel and lifestyle merchants. There are no added fees or premiums for paying by card.
Landlords, property managers and agents get a fully digital rent collection process, part of a wider move toward digital property transactions in the UAE market. Dubizzle Group says the added flexibility for tenants could help improve retention and make rental properties more appealing.
Tern Real Estate Technology: Background and Rewards Model
Tern was founded in 2024 by Said Al Sayyed and Mohamad Shaitou and launched in May 2025. The company describes itself as the UAE’s first dedicated rental rewards platform, built around real estate workflow automation for rent collection. More than AED 150 million in yearly rent payments is processed through its network of tenants, landlords, banks and merchants.
Dubizzle Group Deepens Proptech Footprint With Investment In Tern
Dubizzle Group has deepened its proptech footprint with an investment in Tern as part of its broader expansion across the MENA property and automotive sectors. It follows the group’s acquisitions of Egypt’s Hatla2ee, the UAE automotive platform Drive Arabia, and the real estate intelligence company Property Monitor.
Dubizzle Group’s platforms attract roughly 58 million monthly visits and 20 million monthly users across the region, many of them searching for properties for rent in the UAE. As Dubizzle Group invests in Tern, the integration enhances the rental journey in the region.
In Their Own Words
Haider Ali Khan, CEO of Bayut and dubizzle, Head of Dubizzle Group MENA and Board Member of the Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy, said:
“Rent is one of the largest recurring expenses for most households, yet the payment experience has traditionally offered very little flexibility or added value. In Tern, we found the most compelling solution to address this industry challenge, led by an exceptional founding team with a clear vision.”
Surya Raviganesh, who leads Dubizzle Group’s investment, added: “We are on the lookout for aspirational founders building scalable and innovative business models that create unique value around our property, automotive and consumer marketplaces. Half the population of the UAE uses one of our platforms every month, and there are material synergies by partnering with businesses that can benefit from our highly engaged audience.”
As Dubizzle Group invests in Tern, the partnership marks another step in bringing added value to the rental experience across the UAE.
FAQs
What is Tern and what does it do?
Tern proptech platform is the UAE’s first rental rewards service, letting tenants pay rent by card and earn points for retail, travel and lifestyle rewards.
What are the benefits of proptech for real estate professionals?
Proptech startups in the UAE, like Tern, give agents and landlords a fully digital rent collection process, with added flexibility that could support tenant retention.
What does this investment mean for the UAE proptech ecosystem?
It strengthens the UAE startup ecosystem, deepens Dubizzle Group’s proptech footprint, and builds a more connected rental experience for tenants and landlords.
