E-commerce platform launches in Gulf, eyes rapid expansion

Ecommerce platform MallfortheWorld has announced that consumers in the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar will now have access to more than 150 of US retailers through its app, marking its first foray into the Middle East.

MallfortheWorld said in a statement that its cross platform app, with both desktop and mobile versions available, will launch in other Gulf countries by the end of the year.

The website provides consumers in the three Gulf countries with access to billions of items from e-commerce sites and stores in the US including Tully’s, BCBG, Madison Heart of New York, LightInTheBox, Newegg, Overstock, Carolee, World of Watches, eBags, Madison, Saks fifth Avenue.

Products range from fashion, home, consumer electronics to footwear, sports, jewelry, and health and beauty, the company said in a statement.

The expansion into the Gulf region comes as the company plans to roll out its global strategy over the next two years.

It also takes effect as online shopping in the Middle East is rapidly evolving and has grown by 1,500 percent over the last decade, the company added.

According to a recent Hootsuite and We Are Social report, 62 percent of people in the UAE and 39 percent in Saudi Arabia made an online purchase in the last month, a 25 percent and 57 percent year-on-year increase respectively. Of these, 47 percent in UAE and 33 percent in Saudi Arabia made their purchases using their mobile phones.

Chris Folayan, CEO of MallfortheWorld said: “The Middle East has been on our radar for a while and we believe that this is right time to enter a high potential and developing e-commerce market which has all the right ingredients for us to make a mark for ourselves.

“Online shopping in the Middle East is on the rise and online sales are surging. Middle Eastern consumer appetite for American and European products is rapidly growing however access is very limited and this is where our unique business model comes into play. We plan to further expand our presence in the region with the addition of more markets before year-end.”