Credit: Arageek
UAE-based Smart Bricks wins the $1M grand prize at The Pitch by Deel in Paris, accelerating its AI-powered proptech platform for global real estate investing.
The company secured the award days after winning the GCC regional final in Dubai, advancing to the international stage alongside startups from across multiple global markets.
According to organisers, the competition attracted more than 50,000 startup applications worldwide. Following seven regional finals, 100 startups were selected to compete at the final event in Paris.
“We won the GCC finale in Dubai just a few days ago, then flew to Paris for the global final,” said Mohamed Mohamed, CEO of Smart Bricks. “The level of founders, operators, and investors in the room was extraordinary, and we’re incredibly proud to come away with the win.”
The judging panel included investors, entrepreneurs, and technology executives from across the global startup ecosystem.
Founded in the UAE, Smart Bricks is building AI-powered infrastructure for real estate investing. The company develops agentic AI systems designed to automate property discovery, evaluation, and transaction processes, with the aim of making real estate investment more data-driven and efficient.
The latest milestone follows the company’s $5 million pre-seed funding round earlier this year, led by Andreessen Horowitz’s Speedrun programme, with participation from investors across the United States, Europe, and the Middle East.
Mohamed said the recognition reflects years of work behind the scenes. “People often see the fundraising, growth, and awards, but not the years of risk, pressure, sacrifice, and conviction required to build at this level,” he said. “We’re proud of what we’re building, and we’re just getting started.”
The win adds to growing momentum for AI-focused startups emerging from the Gulf, particularly in sectors such as proptech, fintech, and enterprise infrastructure, where regional founders are increasingly attracting global investor attention.
Related: Saudi Arabia Launches $200M Fund to Back Late-Stage MENA Tech Startups
Why Smart Bricks Matters to MENA
Smart Bricks winning a global AI startup competition highlights the growing international visibility of startups emerging from the MENA region.
The milestone reinforces the Gulf’s rising position in AI and PropTech innovation, particularly as regional founders attract backing from global investors such as Andreessen Horowitz.
For MENA’s startup ecosystem, the win signals increasing confidence in locally built AI infrastructure companies capable of competing on a global stage. It also reflects growing investor interest in technology transforming real estate, one of the region’s largest and fastest-evolving sectors.
