Dubai Land Department and Second Century Ventures Launch 2026 REACH MENA Programme

By Faisal Amin Bhat • Fri Feb 13 2026

The Dubai Land Department, in collaboration with Second Century Ventures, has officially announced the launch of the 2026 REACH MENA programme, marking a significant milestone for the region’s real estate innovation ecosystem. The announcement was made during PropTech Connect 2026, one of the world’s largest global real estate technology exhibitions and conferences.
Endorsed and supported by Dubai Technology Entrepreneurship Campus, the eight month accelerator programme aims to empower a select group of high potential proptech startups from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and India. The initiative brings together public sector leadership and private sector expertise to strengthen the region’s position as a global hub for real estate technology.
The REACH MENA programme has been strategically aligned with the objectives of the UAE Digital Economy Strategy, the Dubai Economic Agenda D33, and the Dubai Real Estate Strategy 2033. Through this accelerator, participating startups will receive financial backing exceeding one million dollars, structured mentorship, access to an extensive investor network, and long term alumni support within a global proptech community.
The initiative is led by Siddiq Farid, Founder of SmartCrowd and Managing Director of REACH MENA, alongside Karim Helal, a prominent entrepreneur and founding board member of the Dubai PropTech Business Council. Their combined expertise in real estate and technology across the GCC region is expected to drive strong outcomes for the inaugural cohort.
Majid Al Marri, CEO of the Real Estate Registration Sector at Dubai Land Department, emphasized that the programme directly contributes to the vision of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum under the Real Estate Strategy 2033. He highlighted that the selected startups are developing forward looking solutions designed to enhance the real estate ecosystem and reinforce Dubai’s global leadership in the property sector.
Siddiq Farid stated that the programme integrates strategic influence with financial support to accelerate innovation within real estate. With strong institutional backing and access to world class mentors, the cohort companies are positioned to scale rapidly and potentially emerge as future unicorns.
Dave Garland, Managing Partner at Second Century Ventures, noted that the Middle East real estate market has become a focal point for technological innovation. He expressed confidence that the expansion of the REACH programme into the MENA region will elevate emerging startups to compete successfully on a global stage.
Hans Henrik Christensen, Vice President and General Manager of Dtec, reaffirmed Dtec’s commitment to providing a collaborative and entrepreneurial environment that enables startups to thrive.
The 2026 REACH MENA cohort includes innovative companies such as Asano, Coraly, Fixit, HoloX, Rewa, Takeem, and Watad. These startups are developing advanced solutions ranging from AI powered growth platforms and digital rental ecosystems to building materials procurement technology and immersive digital twin experiences for off plan property sales.
This marks the first expansion of the global REACH programme into the MENA region. Since its establishment in 2019, the REACH network has supported more than 300 businesses worldwide, reinforcing its position as one of the most active real estate technology accelerators globally.
The programme launch coincided with PropTech Connect 2026, hosted in partnership with Dubai Land Department, where cohort members and global REACH companies showcased their innovations to industry leaders, investors, and policymakers.
The 2026 REACH MENA programme represents a strategic step forward in accelerating technology driven transformation across the real estate sector, strengthening regional innovation, and supporting the long term vision for a digitally advanced property market.