Seraya, a hospitality startup from Dubai that offers premium serviced accommodation, has raised $1.8 million in seed funding. This brings its total funding to $2.15 million. The round was led by a well-known family office from Saudi Arabia and DLL, a German family office along with support from strategic angel investors.
The funding, which includes both equity and debt, will be used to power Seraya’s next stage of growth as it expands in Dubai’s fast-growing short-term rental market.
Seraya, founded in October 2024, has been profitable since day one. It runs with over 92% average occupancy and holds a perfect 5.0 guest rating. The company manages a growing collection of premium apartments in prime Dubai locations like Downtown Dubai, Business Bay, and Marina. Its model combines the reliability of a hotel with the comfort of a home.
Unlike traditional operators, Seraya signs long-term leases (over 5 years), renovates and furnishes the apartments, and takes care of the whole guest experience. This end-to-end approach allows the company to control design, operations, and quality, ensuring a high standard across all properties.
Seraya is expanding quickly, adding one new apartment every week. With the fresh funding, it plans to expand its portfolio to 50 units by the end of 2025, with new openings in the Palm Jumeirah, Dubai Creek, villa communities, and other prime areas.
“We’re building something intentional,” said Pepijn Haima, Co-Founder of Seraya. “Seraya is designed for the modern traveller, people seeking calm, comfort and care while on the move. Our model gives us total control, from the materials we use to the experience we deliver. That’s how we’ve scaled profitably, and how we’ll build a global brand for premium serviced accommodation.”
“Seraya has built a distinctive, high-margin model in one of the most competitive hospitality markets in the world,” said Jakob Langen, Managing Director at DLL. “Their ability to control the full value chain, from sourcing and design to operations gives them a powerful advantage as they scale. We believe this approach positions Seraya to lead a new generation of hospitality brands.”
Seraya prepares apartments for guests in just 10 days after receiving the keys, taking care of renovations, furnishing, and operations fully in-house. It also designs and makes its own custom furniture locally, which helps keep a consistent style and allows the company to grow quickly.
Wellness is a core part of Seraya’s brand. From in-apartment saunas to water filtration systems, every detail is designed to support restful and healthy travel. This focus fits with the company’s goal of offering rejuvenating stays, a growing trend in the $9 trillion global wellness industry.
“Guests should leave feeling better than when they came,” added Haima. That’s the standard we build to.”
The MENA region’s short-term rental market is expanding rapidly, with Dubai alone growing from 20,000 units in 2024 to over 30,000 in 2025. As tourism, digital nomadism, and wellness-led travel reshape the industry, Seraya is positioning itself to lead the premium segment offering a differentiated alternative to generic listings and legacy hotel chains.
“Dubai has been the perfect proving ground,” said Ibrahim Shami, Co-Founder at Seraya. “It’s one of the most competitive hospitality markets in the world, and we’ve shown we can build a brand that stands out. With the systems, design and operating model we’ve developed, we see strong potential for regional expansion in the near future.”
With rising demand and its fully integrated model, Seraya is shaping a future where short-term stays are designed with the same care and attention as the lifestyles they serve.
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