More than 400 senior delegates from the GCC representing real estate development, community and facilities management and property research and development, will be at the inaugural PropTech Middle East 2018, a first-of-its-kind event to be held in Dubai, UAE, this October.

Technology has permeated to the banking, retail, hospitality and manufacturing industries, with the property sector being the latest industry to witness a transformation, said the organiser  Expotrade Global. The convergence of technology and property has wholly transformed the traditional housing market – from property management to marketing, sales to transactions, it pointed out.

The impact of technology in the property sector has been such that it has led to the emergence of the term ‘Proptech’, which is pegged to be the next game changer after FinTech, Expotrade added.

In the Middle East, Dubai has been a frontrunner in adopting technology to offer its citizens a better quality of life and achieve its ambition of becoming the world’s smartest city by 2021.

Against this backdrop, Dubai is set to host the first PropTech conference from October 29 to 30 at Sofitel Dubai The Palm Resort & Spa. The PropTech Middle East 2018 will highlight the technological innovations and digital transformation taking place in the real sector.

In its inaugural edition, over 40 industry experts will be participating as speakers and panellists at the conference, highlighting how technology is influencing the rapid transformation of the real estate industry in the region while emphasising the trends and developments witnessed.

The two-day event will cover the future of the property technology industry with topics on drones changing the face of real estate, Proptech transforming the traditional housing market, impact of 3D printing in real estate, and blockchain implementation strategies, to name a few.

Proptech guru James Dearsley will deliver the keynote address while more than 15 industry experts have already confirmed their participation at the at PropTech Middle East 2018.

Some of the early speaker confirmations received include Karim Nagaty, chief marketing officer, Dubai Properties; Faisal Ali, group chief information officer, Gargash; Craig Plumb, head of research – real estate/property, JLL; Joseph Morris, partner – head of capital markets and investment transactions Middle East, Knight Frank; and Ajay Rathi, group senior director, executive IT strategist and business partner, Meraas.

The conference will also provide a platform for start-up ventures offering solutions in the property sector. Apart from networking with relevant stakeholders, and showcasing their marquee solutions, the two-day event offers an opportunity to budding entrepreneurs to meet investors, and participate in the Start-up Competition, which will give them a chance to win $5,000.