News

Dubai Startup Silkhaus Aims For A “Smooth As Silk” Experience

Technology now plays a key role in the Dubai rentals market, helping real estate investors and travelers alike to create unique hospitality experiences.

Published

4 years ago

January 2, 2023

Nour Nasir

dubai startup silkhaus aims for a smooth as silk experience

Dubai-based Silkhaus is a PropTech startup that describes itself as a “technology-first hospitality brand”. The company aims to offer immersive nomadic experiences by “providing business and leisure travelers with a home away from home” and, as the name suggests, convert tedious planning into an experience that’s as smooth as silk.

For readers unfamiliar with the term, PropTech is the application of technology in the real estate sector. It encompasses everything from property management and Airbnb-style bookings to construction and analytics, with features usually accessed through a mobile app.

The global PropTech market value is projected to grow from $18.2 to $86.5 billion by 2032 — a compound annual rate of about 17% — and is primarily driven by nomadic professionals who are happy to relocate for career purposes.

As for Silkhaus, the startup was conceived by strategy consultant Aahan Bhojani, who noticed several issues with his own corporate travel experiences. He now strives to ensure others won’t experience the same frustrations.

silkhaus founder and ceo aahan bhojani

“I realized there was something broken about the long-stay travel experience, and finding suitable long-term accommodation options on online travel aggregators was like pulling a needle out of a haystack […] aside from investors purchasing real estate, we have seen a growing interest in the resident population seeking to reside in the UAE. The need for a ‘landing pad’ to accommodate incoming audiences has never been stronger,” says Aahan Bhojani, founder and CEO of Silkhaus.

Also Read: Hotel Cloud Kitchen Startup Matbakhi Launches In Saudi Arabia

Despite a gradually worsening global market, Silkhaus was still able to raise $7.75 million in a seed funding round last month, and is well placed to boost its portfolio of investors and continue with a medium-term expansion strategy.

Over the last few years, big data and cloud technology have transformed consumer experiences in the property sector, positively affecting property owners, tenants, landlords, and brokers alike. Startups like Silkhaus look set to continue this trend, with plans in the works to expand to cities across the Middle East and eventually into South and South-East Asia.

News

Syria Just Got Its First Super App Featuring Built-In Digital Payments

Built by UAE-based Syrian founders with the Ministry of Tourism’s backing, My Syria lands as visitor numbers more than double.

Published

5 days ago

August 1, 2026

Nour Nasir

syria just got its first super app featuring built-in digital payments

For most of the past decade, paying for anything in Syria with an international card was effectively impossible. Sanctions, a collapsed banking sector, and years of isolation left the country running on cash. That is what makes the launch of My Syria — the country’s first super app — more than a routine product announcement.

Developed by 121 Living, a company founded by four UAE-based Syrian entrepreneurs — Rami Kaiem, Feras Kaiem, Waseem Qudmani, and Kinan Madi — the app launched in Damascus on July 30 under the patronage of Minister of Tourism Mazen Al-Salhani. It bundles hotels, restaurants, transport, attractions, food delivery, and other lifestyle services into a single platform, currently offering eight services with plans to expand to more than 40 verified tourism and hospitality providers across the country.

Although the app already sounds enticing, the headline feature is its built-in payments. My Syria is the first platform in Syria to support cross-border digital payments through Apple Pay, Google Pay, Visa, Mastercard, and American Express — familiar tools for international visitors, and a route into the digital economy for local businesses that have long operated outside it.

my syria super app launch event

The launch rides on a sharp rebound for the troubled country. Syria’s tourism sector recorded 3.52 million visitor arrivals in the first half of 2026, a 111 percent increase over the 1.67 million during the same period in 2025 — a mix of returning expatriates, regional visitors, and international tourists.

Also Read: This UAE Platform Wants To Replace Fashion Photo Shoots With AI

The Ministry of Tourism, which supported and supervised the app’s development, frames the launch as proof of concept for a wider strategy. “Digital transformation is one of the Ministry’s strategic priorities because it enables us to build a more competitive, connected and investment-ready tourism sector,” Al-Salhani said, inviting technology companies “globally, regionally and locally” to explore opportunities across the wider economy.

For 121 Living, this is phase one, with additional services and expanded geographic coverage planned. Whether a super app can flourish in a market still rebuilding its infrastructure is an open question, but for the first time in years, a visitor to Damascus can pay for dinner with their phone.