Rashid Al Ghurair, a leading tech entrepreneur and CEO of Cafu, today announces the launch of “Urban”, a mobile/web application that brings the entire rental journey online, allowing users to discover inspected homes, visit them using their phone and make monthly payments.

The first comprehensive solution of its kind, Urban has been developed entirely in Dubai by a team who shared tenants’ frustrations such as false photography, inconvenient viewing times, exhausting negotiations, and inflexible payment options, and decided to address it.

Designed to make the experience of renting joyful rather than painful, Urban introduces several unique features for renters, most notably doing away with cheques, and instead offering credit and direct debit payments in addition to the option to pay their rent in 12 monthly installments. 

Additional key features of Urban include:

  • Virtual tours of every listed home
  • High-quality, carefully inspected homes
  • Allows tenants to unlock smart locks using their phones
  • Making an offer in-app and bringing transparency to negotiations
  • Renting online, without the paperwork

Urban is designed in response to growing issues voiced by renters, as evidenced in a recent YouGov survey commissioned by Intelligent B[1], the technology incubator behind Cafu and Urban, which found that two thirds (66%) of respondents had viewed a home that did not match their expectations, while 30% faced difficulties coordinating timings with agents. Almost a third (32%) of Dubai residents found the current rental process stressful[2].

As well as introducing greater choice for renters, Urban also addresses the pains of today’s rental market from the perspective of landlords. It helps landlords by marketing their properties more attractively to qualified residents through virtual tours and convenient viewing times, allows them to maximise returns and, find and keep the right tenants through a comprehensive screening process and maintenance services.

Rashid Al Ghurair said: “Urban is built on tenant-centric values. It is a strong and overdue disruptor to the rental market, empowering renters and landlords throughout the rental journey. Renters can discover inspected homes, visit with just their phone and pay their rent monthly. For landlords, we’ll list and rent out their property to qualified residents after cleaning, inspecting and capturing their home in its best light.”

Mr. Al Ghurair credited the UAE for inspiring him to enter the proptech market. He added: “The UAE is a playground for innovation where we are constantly encouraged by our wise leadership to push boundaries and deliver groundbreaking solutions. It is an incubator for technology start-ups, so we couldn’t be prouder that Urban was developed right here in Dubai.”

As part of its initial phase, Urban will feature 200+ homes located in Dubai Marina, JBR, and Jumeirah Lake Towers, with more neighborhoods expected to come online across Dubai very soon.

The app is available to download for iOS and Android, while the web version can be accessed at gourban.com

[1] The YouGov survey was commissioned by Intelligent B and launched on 11 December 2019

[2] In response to the catalogue of grievances cited, Dubai’s renters called for an overhaul of the current rental experience, demanding several changes. 45% of respondents preferred the ability to pay in more instalments, with over a third (34%) willing to pay 5% on top of their annual rent to be able to make 12 payments. Two in five (39%) asked for more transparent negotiations, while a similar amount (38%) said they would like to limit the agent’s involvement.

© Press Release 2020

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