Born to Disrupt – Democratising Real Estate in Saudi Arabia with Hanouf Abdulelah Bin Saeed
In this episode of Born to Disrupt, hosts Mark Walker and Simon Hardie are joined by Hanouf Abdulelah Bin Saeed, General Manager at Stake, a digital real estate investment platform that is revolutionising access to property ownership in the Middle East. Drawing on over 17 years of experience in banking, regulation, and investment, Hanouf offers a deep and practical perspective on how technology and finance are converging to make real estate more inclusive and transparent—particularly in Saudi Arabia.
A Career Built on Transformation
Hanouf’s professional journey spans corporate banking, investment advisory, and regulatory roles, including a period at Saudi Arabia’s Capital Market Authority where she helped oversee real estate investment funds and non-banking financial institutions. Her career has consistently centred on bringing structure and clarity to traditionally opaque financial sectors. This background positioned her perfectly for a leadership role at Stake—a platform pioneering the fractional ownership of real estate.
Her interest in Stake was driven by two factors: a personal passion for real estate, and a professional desire to contribute to digital transformation in Saudi Arabia. She describes Stake as a natural fit, offering a powerful vehicle for expanding investment access to new demographics.
Disrupting an Age-Old Industry
Real estate has long been a preferred asset class in the Middle East, particularly in Saudi Arabia. However, the industry has historically been dominated by large institutional players and private investment groups, with high barriers to entry for everyday investors. Transactions were often informal, illiquid, and paper-based.
Stake is changing that by offering a fully digital platform that allows investors to buy fractional shares in curated property portfolios. In Saudi Arabia, the minimum investment is 500 SAR, making property ownership accessible to a far broader population. The platform is especially attractive to younger investors, those building long-term financial strategies, and residents with limited access to traditional property markets.
Technology, Regulation, and Vision 2030
Hanouf highlights the crucial role that regulation plays in Stake’s success. The company operates in collaboration with Saudi regulators through sandbox initiatives, helping to shape emerging policy on digital ownership, blockchain-based transactions, and title deed fractionalisation. The relationship is one of co-development, in which regulators and innovators work hand-in-hand to develop secure, compliant solutions.
This regulatory alignment also supports Vision 2030, the Kingdom’s ambitious national development strategy. By increasing home ownership and supporting new housing supply, Stake is directly contributing to government priorities. With real estate development across Saudi Arabia expected to exceed $1.5 trillion, the opportunity for innovation and investment is vast.
Cross-Border Investment and Global Reach
Although headquartered in the UAE, Stake is growing rapidly in Saudi Arabia, attracting investors from over 200 nationalities. Backed by firms like Mubadala, Aramco’s Waqit Fund, and Al Jumeirah Holding, the company is building a global platform for seamless real estate investment. Hanouf shares that recent Saudi-based funds have seen strong uptake from international investors based in the UK, France, India, the US, and beyond.
The platform’s key strength lies in its user experience—investors can complete transactions within minutes, gaining exposure to prime real estate developments that previously would have required substantial capital and personal connections.
Financial Inclusion and Cultural Shifts
One of the most notable outcomes of Stake’s model is its contribution to financial literacy and inclusion. While Saudis have always valued land ownership, Stake provides the tools to turn this cultural affinity into long-term wealth creation strategies. The platform has already delivered returns of 8–10% in Saudi Arabia, outperforming more mature markets like the UAE, where yields typically range between 5–6%.
Hanouf sees this as the start of a broader shift—from a consumption-driven mindset to one that embraces financial empowerment and ownership. With new regulatory frameworks and a fast-growing tech-savvy population, Saudi Arabia is uniquely placed to lead this transformation.
