E-commerce is booming in the Middle East. In a region where, traditionally, the vast majority of online goods came from other countries, e-commerce has become more in-demand than ever before due to a recent increase in the use of internet services. Estimates in 2019 indicated the region’s sector was poised for significant growth in 2020, with total market value expected to reach nearly $70 billion.
As the Middle Eastern e-commerce market continues to flourish, let’s look at some of the platforms that helped the sector become what it is today. From fashion sites to eyewear providers, here are the biggest Arab e-commerce startups:
1. Namshi
Since its launch in 2011, Namshi has become the go-to site for young adults who want to enhance their wardrobes with urban styles from some of the biggest brands in the world. The site features a breadth of options for clothing, accessories, shoes, and even beauty products sourced from both in the UAE and beyond.
Namshi shoppers can obtain the latest fashions from more than 700 brands, from big names like Topshop and Adidas to the startup’s exclusive label. With such a vast online catalogue to choose from, users can always keep their wardrobes updated with the latest trends.
To further meet its users’ needs, Namshi recently launched a rewards program. It allows them to earn points on purchases and save while shopping their favorite brands.
2. The Luxury Closet
Over the last nine years, The Luxury Closet has grown from a small team of three founders to an 80-strong workforce that operates the MENA region’s favorite online boutique for luxury products. From Chanel to Louis Vuitton, the site features over 16,000 high-end items from top global brands.
The Luxury Closet offers clothes, shoes, and accessories at deeply discounted rates by allowing sellers to list their used luxury products online. The startup’s expert team authenticates each item before it goes on sale, so buyers can be sure that they are always getting the real thing.
The Luxury Closet is dedicated to providing a user-friendly experience. The site allows buyers to pay using one of five different payment methods, including an installment plan for higher-priced items. The startup’s hassle-free return policy helps ensure customer satisfaction with each purchase.
3. Sprii
Once an online exchange, Sprii has since evolved into a marketplace where mothers can find whatever they need for themselves and their children. Today, the platform serves over 1 million customers, who can find items from thousands of well-known product lines and local brands.
Along with its vast product offerings, Sprii focuses on providing excellent customer service to its user base. The startup offers free shipping with every order and allows its clients to pay cash on delivery. For added convenience, Sprii welcomes returns within seven days of delivery.
4. Eyewa
Eyewa has been MENA’s leading online marketplace for eyewear since 2017. The platform offers a myriad of affordable prescription glasses, contacts, and sunglasses, which are shipped directly to customers by the manufacturers to ensure authenticity. The Eyewa team is constantly updating their online stock to reflect emerging eyewear trends and keep their clients looking their best.
Since its launch, Eyewa has raised an impressive $11.1 million in venture capital. Its most recent bridge round garnered $2.5 million in funding. This will support its continued expansion in 2020 and beyond.
5. Wadi Grocery
Established in 2015, Wadi Grocery spent the first three years of its operation as an online marketplace where residents of the Middle East could find more than 550,000 in-demand products. In 2019, however, the startup discontinued its Internet marketplace as part of a gradual shift to grocery deliveries.
Today, Wadi Grocery is the number one grocery app in Saudi Arabia, serving over 15 million customers in three cities. Users can order from a catalog of 20,000 products, which range from household supplies to produce, and save on their favorites with app-exclusive deals. Wadi Grocery guarantees delivery within two hours of receiving each order, so its clientele can get the groceries they need without hassle.
6. Noon
Noon has dominated the tech market in the UAE since its launch in 2017. Each year, it has raised more than $1 billion in funding, making it the most well-funded of all tech startups in the country.
This funding has helped Noon grow into one of the most in-demand e-commerce platforms in the MENA region. The site has not only created an online marketplace that caters to the local market, but also provided an arena in which brick-and-mortar shops can grow.
On Noon, shoppers can find a range of electronics, apparel, and home goods from major global brands. Most recently, the platform tapped into the food delivery market with the launch of Noon Food.
7. Dokkan Afkar
Headquartered in Saudi Arabia, Dokkan Afkar has built a one-stop shop for “everyday gizmos and gadgets” of all kinds. When perusing this online marketplace, users can find beauty devices, home automation products, and everything in between.
Dokkan Afkar also features some fashion items and other products for creative-minded shoppers. This vast array of items makes it easy for users to find things for themselves or buy the perfect gifts for friends and family.
Most recently, Dokkan Afkar closed a Series B funding round with $5.6 million. With this investment, the startup will bolster its online inventory with more homegrown items and, eventually, expand its reach across the MENA region and beyond.
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