Download for iPhone

Questions

Is it really free?

Stays are free. There is no nightly rate, no service fee, no deposit, and no money moving between a guest and a host. A host is offering hospitality, not renting a room, and we are not going to put a price on that.

So how does Habibi Stay make money?

Right now, it does not. We are focused on building something that works and is worth trusting. When we do need to sustain the company, it will be through something that adds value on the side. Never by taking a cut of hospitality, and never by charging anyone for a place to sleep. When we have a real answer, we will say so plainly rather than changing the rules quietly.

Do I have to give you my contacts?

Not on this website. We will never ask for your address book here. In the app, connecting with people you already know is how your circle works, but it is always your choice, you select the specific people yourself, and nobody is contacted without your say-so.

Can strangers find my home?

No. There are no listings and no way to search for a person or a home. If there is no trusted connection between two people, they are invisible to each other.

What if I do not want to host?

Then do not. Many people will only ever use Habibi Stay to travel, or only to introduce people they know. Hosting is never assumed and never expected.

What if I say no to someone?

You say no. No reason is required, and no reason is passed on. This is deliberate. A product where declining is uncomfortable would quickly become a product nobody uses honestly.

Is this only for certain communities?

Habibi Stay is being built for diaspora families first, because that is where the need and the existing culture of hosting are strongest. It is not restricted by nationality, religion, or background. Anyone with a family network that spans cities will recognize the problem.

Will there be an Android version?

Yes, though not first. We are building one excellent app before building two average ones. Sign up for updates and we will let you know.

My relatives are not comfortable with apps. Will they manage?

That is one of the things we have designed for most carefully. There is a simpler version of the app with larger text, bigger buttons, and fewer choices on each screen, for anyone who prefers it. If the people who hold families together cannot use it, the product does not work.

When can I actually use it?

Now. Habibi Stay is on the App Store for iPhone. There is no invitation, no application, and no approval: download it, verify a phone number, and you are in.

Who makes Habibi Stay?

Habibi Stay is created by Mangla & Co LLC, a small company registered in Virginia. We also make Mohallah.

What do you do with my email?

We send you Habibi Stay updates and nothing else. We do not sell it, we do not share it, and we do not run analytics or advertising trackers on this site. Our privacy policy says exactly what we collect, which is not much.