Dubizzle Group Invests in Tern to Add Rewards to UAE Rent Payments

Dubizzle Group has taken a stake in Tern, a UAE rental rewards platform, in a deal that pushes the classifieds operator further beyond property search and into the mechanics of how rent actually gets paid.

The investment, made through the group's venture arm, comes with an exclusive integration of Tern into Bayut and dubizzle. Tenants will be able to settle rent by credit card and collect Tern Rewards points, redeemable across retail, travel and lifestyle merchants, with no added fees or premiums for paying on plastic.

For landlords, agents and property managers, the pitch is faster, fully digital rent collection, alongside a more flexible payment option that could help keep good tenants in place. Card payments and a points-based rewards system model are still a rare sight in a market where rent has long been settled by cheque.

Founded in 2024 by Said Al Sayyed and Mohamad Shaitou and launched in May 2025, Tern bills itself as the UAE's first dedicated rental rewards platform, and says it now has more than AED 150 million in annualised rent payment volume flowing through its network of tenants, landlords, banks and merchants.

Commenting on the partnership, Haider Ali Khan, CEO of Dubizzle Group UAE, 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."

The deal was struck through Dubizzle Group Ventures, the early-stage investment arm focused on technology startups across the GCC. Surya Raviganesh, who leads the group's investments, said: "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."

The Tern tie-up follows a busy run of launches at Bayut, including the TrueEstimate rental reports and the 3D production house Bayut Studios, as the group stacks up tools that sit either side of the listing itself. With a reported 58 million monthly visits and 20 million monthly users, Dubizzle's platforms hand Tern an instant shop window, and give the group one more reason for renters to stay close once the search is done.