Dubizzle Group invests in rental-rewards startup Tern
What's the deal? Dubizzle Group, the Middle East's leading online classifieds platform, has made a strategic investment in TernDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom →, a UAE-based rental rewards startup. The deal, made through Dubizzle Group Ventures, pairs the investment with an exclusive integration of Tern's platform into Dubizzle Group's property portals BayutDealroom has a profile for this one. Try Dealroom → and dubizzle.
Tern lets tenants pay rent by credit card and earn rewards points redeemable across retail, travel, and lifestyle merchants — at no extra cost. For landlords and agents, it offers faster, fully digital rent collection.
Founded in 2024 by Said Al Sayyed and launched in May 2025, Tern claims over AED 150 million (roughly $41M) in annualised rent payment volume flowing through its platform.
Why now? Dubizzle Group, which draws 58 million monthly visits and 20 million monthly users, is pushing to become more than a search-and-discovery tool. The investment signals a shift toward building a full property ecosystem — from finding a home to paying rent.
"Rent is one of the largest recurring expenses for most households, yet the payment experience has traditionally offered very little flexibility or added value," said Haider Ali Khan, chief executive officer of Dubizzle Group UAE. "In Tern, we found the most compelling solution to address this industry challenge."
Dubizzle Group Ventures focuses on early-stage tech startups across the GCC. Surya Raviganesh, who leads the group's investments, said the firm targets "aspirational founders building scalable, and innovative business models that create unique value around our property, automotive and consumer marketplaces."
What could go wrong? Tern's model hinges on credit card adoption for rent payments — still uncommon in the UAE, where cheques and bank transfers dominate. Scaling a rewards programme also requires a broad merchant network and sustained unit economics, both of which remain unproven for a platform barely a year old.
The exclusive tie to Dubizzle Group's platforms gives Tern distribution but also creates dependency. If Dubizzle Group's priorities shift, Tern's growth channel could narrow fast.
The signal: This deal reflects a broader trend across the Gulf: classifieds giants evolving into vertical platforms that own more of the transaction chain. Rather than simply listing properties, Dubizzle Group wants to monetise the post-listing experience — payments, loyalty, and tenant management.
It also underscores growing corporate venture activity in the GCC's proptech space, as large platforms use strategic investments to lock in ecosystem advantages rather than build everything in-house.
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