As the technology space becomes increasingly competitive in the UAE, many firms are struggling to secure the funding required to drive growth. But not all
Haider Khan is the CEO of proptech company Bayut, as well as dubizzle, an online marketplace. He is also the head of UAE-based unicorn Dubizzle Group MENA.
Aside from leading one of the region’s few unicorns, Khan also boasts an impressive list of experience, having spent a short time at Goldman Sachs, before spending the next 14 years at National Instruments and Silicon Laboratories.
During this time, he worked on a wide range of large-scale projects, from working on 5G technology to sharing his expertise with the Elon Musk-led space technology company SpaceX.
The technology leader eventually moved on to the UAE in 2014, where he has successfully scaled high-growth platforms, raised over $500million in funding, and led a landmark merger with OLX across the UAE, Pakistan, Egypt, and Lebanon. Under his leadership, Dubizzle Group became a company valued at over $1billion.
We sat down with Khan to find out more about how he led Dubizzle Group to success, his engineering background, progress in the UAE, and his big plans for the future.
You’ve played a pivotal role in building one of the few unicorns born out of the UAE. What were the biggest strategic decisions that enabled Dubizzle Group to achieve a $1billion valuation, especially in such a competitive digital landscape?
Reaching unicorn status was never the end goal – it was a natural result of staying relentlessly focused on solving real consumer and business problems at scale. One of the most pivotal decisions we made early on was to double down on localisation. We didn’t just copy-paste global models – we reimagined them for the unique nuances of the UAE.
Secondly, we embraced tech as a core differentiator, not just a support function. By investing heavily in our AI and ML capabilities at a very early stage, launching problem-solving products like TruCheck, and then scaling that with proprietary tools like TruBroker, TruEstimate and ProConnect, and maintaining a laser focus on user trust and quality, we created platforms that are not only large in reach but deep in value.
Our acquisition strategy has also played a critical role, bringing dubizzle into the fold and building a full-stack ecosystem across classifieds and proptech gave us the kind of operational and data synergy that few players can match.
Having led high-growth platforms across multiple countries, how do you tailor innovation strategies to accommodate regional differences while maintaining a unified company vision?
It starts with listening. Every market has its own economic rhythms, user behaviours and trust barriers—so while the technology stack might be scalable, the go-to-market execution must be hyperlocal.
At Dubizzle Group, our local teams drive product-market fit with autonomy, but within the framework of a centralised innovation roadmap. That means we stay true to our mission—building smarter ecosystems while giving our regional brands the freedom to innovate based on local feedback loops.
Our unified vision acts as the North Star, but our strength lies in the adaptability of our routes to get there.
From engineering solutions for SpaceX and 5G to now transforming classifieds and proptech, how has your technical background shaped your approach to digital leadership in MENA?
My engineering background taught me to break down complex problems and build solutions from the ground up. Whether it was working on 5G or at SpaceX, my mindset has always been the same: question everything, simplify where possible and focus on scalable outcomes that offer real value.
That approach has carried through into my work at Dubizzle Group. I always say this: I see technology as more than just a support tool. It’s a part of our DNA as an organisation, and it shapes how we solve problems for users, how we build trust and how we stay ahead.
We’ve embedded this thinking into everything, from building AI tools like TruEstimate to introducing authentication features like TruCheck or agent recognition systems like TruBroker. It’s about using smart tech to create better experiences, not just faster ones.
With your involvement in the Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy, what are your views on the UAE’s digital transformation roadmap, and how can tech companies better align with national economic goals?
One of the biggest advantages of the UAE is the constant thirst for exceeding expectations, a sentiment that I deeply resonate with. The UAE isn’t just participating in digital transformation – it’s orchestrating it. What sets this region apart is its proactive policymaking and willingness to co-create with the private sector. Initiatives like the Dubai PropTech Hub and the Digital Economy Strategy reflect a bold vision to make this region a global tech powerhouse.
For tech companies, alignment means more than just regulatory compliance – it’s about impact. We need to build with purpose: empowering SMEs, upskilling talent, and embedding sustainability and inclusion into our platforms.
At Dubizzle Group, our investments in AI, local talent, and ecosystem data transparency are all aligned with the UAE’s ambition to be not just digitally enabled, but digitally sovereign.
Looking ahead, what does the next phase of growth look like for Dubizzle Group, and how are you integrating AI, data, or emerging technologies to future-proof your platforms?
The next phase is about moving from platforms to ecosystems. We’re connecting the dots between discovery, transaction, and post-sale services to create seamless, trust-driven digital journeys, whether someone is buying a car, renting a home, or launching a business.
AI is a big part of that future. Our ‘Sell with AI’ tool already allows users to list with intelligent suggestions in seconds. In under a month, we have had over 100,000 listings added to the platform with this smart assistant. Bayut’s industry-leading solutions, like TruBroker and TruEstimate are helping bring unmatched transparency and efficiency to previously fragmented markets.
We’re also doubling down on our data infrastructure, predictive analytics, user insights, market benchmarks – so that every stakeholder, from agents to government bodies, can make faster, smarter decisions.
Ultimately, future-proofing means staying restless. We’re building for where the market is going, not just where it is today.
