For years, the standard one-to-four cheque cycle has been a defining feature—and a significant financial hurdle—of renting in the UAE. That era is now coming to a close. In a landmark move for the region’s rental market, Property Finder has announced a strategic partnership and investment with Keyper, a UAE fintech firm, to integrate monthly rent payments directly into its platform.
As first reported by Gulf News, this partnership marks the first fully integrated monthly payment option in the region, signaling a massive shift towards flexibility and modern convenience for the UAE’s residents.
A Welcome Shift Away From Large Upfront Cheques
The traditional requirement to pay an entire year’s rent in one to four large instalments has long placed considerable financial strain on tenants, often restricting their choices and draining savings. Keyper’s existing system already supports over Dh2 billion in rental demand, successfully allowing thousands of tenants to switch to predictable monthly payments via card or direct debit.
By embedding this technology directly into the Property Finder ecosystem—the go-to portal for property searches in the UAE—this flexible payment option is set to become mainstream, widening access across the entire market.
A Milestone for Market Transparency and Flexibility
Michael Lahyani, Founder and CEO of Property Finder, emphasized the importance of this development. “This partnership marks an important milestone in our mission to bring greater transparency, flexibility and convenience to the UAE’s real estate market,” he said. “By easing the financial burden of large upfront rental payments, we’re helping new residents establish themselves more easily and build long-term roots in the country.”
A Win-Win-Win for the Entire Market
This change is designed to streamline and improve the rental process for everyone involved:
- For Tenants: Gain the ability to budget on a month-by-month basis, dramatically easing cash flow and financial planning.
- For Agents: Can close deals faster with fewer fall-throughs linked to a tenant’s inability to arrange large upfront payments.
- For Landlords: Benefit from consistent, automated digital payments and a lower risk of rental payment defaults.
Omar Abu Innab, CEO and Founder of Keyper, noted that this move aligns the UAE with major global rental markets. “Monthly rent payments are the norm in major global cities, and the UAE is moving in that direction. By bringing Keyper’s technology into Property Finder’s ecosystem, we’re offering renters greater flexibility and landlords greater certainty.”
The Future is Digital and Flexible
This partnership is a key part of Dubai’s broader vision to modernize its real estate sector and expand its digital service offerings. The integrated rent-in-installments feature is scheduled to go live on the Property Finder platform in the first half of 2026, paving the way for a more accessible and resident-friendly rental landscape.
The Bottom Line
The introduction of a seamless, integrated monthly rent payment option is more than just a new feature—it’s a fundamental shift that makes the UAE a more attractive and manageable place to live. It reduces barriers to entry for new residents and provides much-needed financial breathing room for all, reinforcing Dubai’s position as a forward-thinking, world-class city.
What do you think about the move to monthly rent payments? Will this make you more likely to rent in a new community? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.
Realty Access Blog is your trusted source for insights and updates on the evolving UAE real estate market. Source: Gulf News.
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