The Proptech Connection at PIF’s “Private Sector Forum” February 2026

One of our Managing Partners, Ivo van Breukelen, participated in the PSF 2026 in Riyadh, marking an important opportunity to connect with leading real estate and construction stakeholders in the region. Our team had the privilege of meeting with clients, (strategic) partners, (senior) government officials and other industry influencers to discuss ongoing initiatives and explore emerging trends shaping the real estate technology landscape.

During the visit, we engaged with a range of market leaders, sharing insights on innovative solutions and collaborative opportunities. These discussions reflect our ongoing commitment to supporting the development and adoption of Proptech across the GULF and beyond.

Following Riyadh, our team continued engagements in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, and Doha, strengthening existing relationships and exploring new avenues for collaboration in these dynamic markets.

We are grateful to all the industry professionals who met with us during this trip. Some observations from the trip:

1) We fare firmly in the exponential era. Linear thinking no longer applies. The organisations that will lead over the next decade are those with a clearly defined and deeply embedded digital strategy. Granular, data-driven understanding will separate winners from the rest

2) Ambition in Gulf region is extraordinary. The appetite — and capability — to become a global leader is unlike anything else we’re seeing. From both a macro and geopolitical perspective, this is where real momentum is building

3) Policy direction is now translating into action. While there has been significant dialogue over recent years, we are clearly entering a phase of execution, driven top-down...

4) Investor relations teams are increasingly searching for stronger entry points. We currently track more than 2,800 funds globally that have deployed capital into proptech, and engagement levels are rising and onboarding strategic investors looking to come in meaningfully.

5) Many proptech companies have experienced stalled growth and may not meet traditional VC benchmarks, yet they present strong distribution and exit opportunities for the right partners

6) Large technology firms are expanding their focus into real estate and construction. The likely outcome is consolidation rather than disruption — integration over cannibalisation

7) Industry leaders within real estate and construction are successfully building technology capabilities themselves. This is a long-standing trend gaining further traction. Deep sector knowledge and direct access to decision-makers remain critical advantages

8) A dedicated Gulf-based proptech fund is in motion. Behind the scenes, several market participants are developing a much-needed strategic investor platform

9) Education continues to be fundamental. In the vast majority of engagements — particularly with corporate VCs, mid-market PE, and technology buyers — we introduce companies or levels of technological maturity that are new to them. Visibility across the ecosystem remains limited, and many “quick wins” are still untapped

For anyone who would like to connect or explore potential collaborations, please feel free to contact us today.