How AIR's founder is building the future of real estate tech

Gulf Business

6 days ago

Milad Monshipour, the founder and CEO of AIR/Image: Supplied
Milad Monshipour, the founder and CEO of AIR (AI Realtor), is no stranger to disrupting established sectors. After leading mobility app TAPSI to a historic IPO, he has now set his sights on real estate. With AIR, he is introducing an AI-native brokerage model, designed not just to digitalise, but to fundamentally restructure how property transactions work in one of the world's most dynamic real estate markets: Dubai.
'Unlike surface-level system integrations that merely layer AI-based features onto traditional systems, AIR is AI-native,' says Monshipour. 'It has been designed from the ground up to employ artificial intelligence as the core engine driving the entire property journey.'
AIR comprises three proprietary tools—AIR Brain, AIR Match, and AIR Value—that guide the user journey, from discovery to closing, using Dubai-specific data sets. 'AIR was trained specifically on Dubai's real estate data with advanced algorithms, enabling a level of localisation and precision unmatched by generic global tools,' he adds.
Fixing a fragmented market
Monshipour believes real estate is the Middle East's next big tech disruption—not fintech, not mobility. The reason is clear: property transactions across the region remain opaque, heavily manual, and fragmented. 'AIR aims to fix this by streamlining discovery, automating admin-heavy tasks, and providing real-time information to both buyers and agents,' he says.
Dubai's market conditions make it ripe for this transformation. It is highly digital, fast-growing, and backed by clear regulations and data transparency. Yet the industry still depends heavily on brokers navigating inconsistent, time-consuming workflows. 'In a dynamic and fast-growing market like Dubai, it is the right time to rethink how real estate operates and to give buyers and brokers a smarter, faster, and more transparent experience.'
Built inside-out, not adapted top-down
Monshipour argues that startups in the region must build with local DNA. 'In markets like the UAE, and Dubai in particular, the nuances are too complex for imported models to succeed without significant adaptation,' he says. 'Dubai is, in many ways, ahead of the curve globally, with advanced regulation, data transparency, seamless digital processes, and a property market that far exceeds its population size in scale and dynamism.'
AIR's foundation reflects that philosophy. 'Our data models are trained exclusively on Dubai-specific datasets, making the platform naturally attuned to local demand, legal frameworks, and customer behaviour.'
That grounding in local insight doesn't mean AIR lacks global ambition. The startup plans to expand to other markets, but only after proving itself in Dubai. 'Our first focus is to perfect the Dubai model within 6–9 months,' he says. 'From there, we see strong parallels in other high-growth, high-transparency real estate markets within the GCC region, and regulatory advanced markets—Australia and the UK.'
Not replacing brokers—empowering them
Unlike narratives around AI eliminating jobs, AIR is positioning itself as a broker-enablement platform. 'AIR is designed not to replace brokers, but to supercharge them,' says Monshipour. 'Our AI assumes control for tasks that machines can do best… so that agents can focus on where they deliver the most value: negotiations, personalised advice, and human connection.'
He explains how AIR dynamically adjusts its involvement. 'The system steps back when a human touch is needed and steps in when efficiency is paramount.'
A smarter customer journey
AIR isn't just about flashy tech. Its tools are built for utility. AIR Brain tracks user preferences from the first point of contact. AIR Match recommends listings in real time, and AIR Assistant manages follow-ups, CRM inputs, and even viewing schedules. Meanwhile, AIR Value helps agents negotiate with real-time pricing logic.
'All this happens in the background, ensuring a seamless experience journey for the client, while the agent stays focused on relationship building and strategy,' he says.
Consumers, Monshipour notes, are rarely resistant to such innovation. 'They're actively craving better experiences and are quick to recognise when a product like AIR delivers that.'
Lessons from TAPSI
As a second-time founder, Monshipour has approached AIR with a refined playbook. 'At AIR, we're building with global scalability in mind and not limiting ourselves to traditional growth trajectories—speed and ambition matter,' he says.
'Another key shift is rethinking conventional approaches. The real estate industry is full of legacy practices, and we're intentionally challenging those by leveraging technology in new ways.'
He's also more deliberate about team building. 'I know that having top-tier talent from the outset can significantly accelerate execution and innovation.'
Enabling a new infrastructure layer
Monshipour is clear that AIR isn't aiming to become just another listing platform or brokerage. 'We're not just building a unicorn; we're reimagining the entire real estate ecosystem,' he says.
'Agents will remain essential, but their roles will evolve and be significantly augmented by AI. A few high-performing, tech-enabled firms will emerge as dominant players, delivering consistent, transparent, and superior customer service, often at lower costs.'
He envisions a future where listing platforms and brokerages blur, and AIR operates as the connective tissue powering both. 'That's where the real disruption lies… becoming a unicorn is simply the starting point.'
Why Dubai?
For AIR, Dubai isn't just a launchpad—it's the ideal testbed. 'The real estate market is large, fast-moving, and supported by some of the most advanced regulations anywhere in the world,' Monshipour says.
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He also credits the UAE's investment climate and growing appetite for tech talent. 'From an investment perspective, the success of companies like Souq, Careem, Noon, and more recently, Tabby and Huspy, has shifted investor confidence towards tech ventures.'
AIR hopes to play a role in attracting top-tier AI talent to the UAE. 'Our current team reflects that ambition, and we expect this trend to accelerate as the ecosystem continues to evolve.'