Dubai, UAE – 6 April, 2026 – Dubai Future District Fund (DFDF) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Second Century Ventures (SCV), backed by the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) and operator of the global REACH real estate tech accelerator. The agreement marks the beginning of a collaboration to accelerate the growth of the real estate innovation ecosystem in Dubai.
Under the terms of the MoU, DFDF and SCV will work together to identify, fund, and support innovative startups at the intersection of real estate and technology. The partnership is designed to unlock new pathways for international real estate technology companies to access the Dubai market, aligning with the city’s ambition to become a global hub for innovation and future economies under the Dubai Economic Agenda D33.
Second Century Ventures is the most active global venture fund in real estate technology, with a portfolio of over 350 companies worldwide. SCV operates the global REACH scale-up program in seven major markets: U.S. Residential, U.S. Commercial, Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, Latin America, and the Middle East.
A Gateway to Scale Real Estate Innovation in Dubai
The collaboration will give SCV access to market insights and strategic stakeholder network in Dubai, including real estate developers, construction firms, facility managers, regulators, and government entities. In parallel, DFDF will benefit from SCV’s global network and investment expertise to source high-potential startups and help local founders scale globally. SCV global footprint will enable not only to attract leading technology companies to UAE but also help scale local companies to global markets
“Real estate and construction are strategic pillars for the Emirate, and by working with SCV, we aim to inject world-class innovation into the ecosystem and create tangible commercial opportunities for technology startups in the space,” said Nader Albastaki, Managing Director of DFDF.
From Global Innovation to Local Impact
As part of the collaboration, SCV has localized components of its flagship REACH accelerator program in Dubai, working closely with DFDF to align each cohort with the region’s strategic priorities. The partners will host two annual “Procurement Matchmaking” events to connect startups with potential buyers and partners in the Dubai market, and jointly evaluate co-investment opportunities through a dedicated ‘Priority Look’ mechanism.
REACH provides a proven framework, financial backing, tailored mentorship, enhanced network and investor access, long-term alumni support and access to a global proptech community. 2026 REACH Middle East’s inaugural cohort includes innovative proptech companies from the UAE, Saudi Arabia and India. The programme has been specifically designed to support the wider goals of the UAE Digital Economy Strategy, the Dubai Economic Agenda (D33), and the Dubai Real Estate Strategy 2033.
“The Middle East is no longer just a participant in the global market; it is becoming the laboratory for the future of the Built World,” said Dave Garland and Tyler Thompson, Managing Partners at Second Century Ventures. “By partnering with DFDF, we are marrying our global network with Dubai’s unparalleled infrastructure readiness to ensure the next generation of Real Estate Technology doesn’t just launch—it scales at the speed of the region’s ambition.”
Catalyzing a Future-Ready Built Environment
The partnership reflects DFDF’s broader mission to catalyze public-private collaboration and bridge global capital with local opportunity. With PropTech and ConTech innovations reshaping how cities are designed, built, and managed, DFDF and SCV are positioning Dubai at the forefront of this transformation.
DFDF takes a holistic approach to ecosystem development, actively engaging global and regional funds, startups, corporates, regulators, family offices, and ecosystem partners to align interests and surface real industry problem statements. By designing meaningful engagement channels and facilitating high-value connections, DFDF creates tangible “unlocks” for each stakeholder, while building a compelling value proposition for leading PropTech funds, startups, and talent to establish and scale from Dubai.
About Dubai Future District Fund
The Dubai Future District Fund (DFDF) invests in funds in early to growth stages, across the key sectors in technology that align with Dubai’s Economic Agenda D33. Those technology sectors include PropTech, HealthTech, LogisticsTech, DeepTech, Circular Economy and Web3.
DFDF’s founding shareholders are Dubai International Financial Centre and Dubai Future Foundation. It is headquartered in the United Arab Emirates, with offices in the DIFC.
About Second Century Ventures & REACH
Second Century Ventures (SCV) is the most active global venture fund in real estate technology. Backed by the National Association of REALTORS®, SCV leverages the support of a global community of real estate practitioners, including owners, operators, developers, brokers and industry executives to help technology companies scale. SCV operates REACH, the number one real estate scale-up program, with operations across the United States, Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, Latin America, and the Middle East.
About the National Association of Realtors®
The National Association of Realtors® is involved in all aspects of residential and commercial real estate. The term Realtor® is a registered collective membership mark that identifies a real estate professional who is a member of the National Association of Realtors® and subscribes to its strict Code of Ethics. For free consumer guides about navigating the homebuying and selling transaction processes – from written buyer agreements to negotiating compensation – visit facts.realtor.
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