DubaiStore, UAE’s first online shopping initiative supporting small and medium businesses, goes live

UAE consumers are set to experience the ability to shop online with confidence with DubaiStore, a new UAE ecommerce marketplace platform created by Digital Economy Solutions (DES) which has gone live.

The new ecommerce platform is an initiative that will facilitate small and medium businesses to sell their products online providing a healthy competition with big ecommerce players, which will provide customers a unique and pleasant online shopping experience. More importantly, the initiative is aimed at supporting UAE-based SMEs to increase their share in the online marketplace.

DES is a joint venture between technology consulting company emaratech and the Department of Economic Development of Dubai (DED).

Customers can order electronics, beauty and fragrance, home and kitchen products, baby and kids products and fashion accessories through this multi-category site, with more categories to be added eventually.

DubaiStore, the first local online marketplace to focus on SMEs and home-based businesses, ensures that no counterfeit or fake products are sold on the platform as only UAE licensed businesses in Dubai are onboard.

It helps merchants sell their products by offering them the necessary tools to easily onboard their products and manage their store. This is done by allowing UAE licensed businesses to communicate directly with consumers, create their own microsites, upload products, process orders, prepare collection and receive payments.

Shoppers simply have to register their details, browse a trusted catalogue and order their products by paying either by credit card, noqodi Digital Wallet or cash on delivery.

READ MORE

Coronavirus: ADIB gives Dhs25 million to 'Together We Are Good' initiative

DIEDC outlines 2020 action plan reviews progress of initiatives

On completing the ordering and payment processes, DubaiStore will pick up and deliver the products through its own courier company. Customers are offered fast shipping and a free 15-day return facility. Shoppers are guaranteed delivery starting from the next day of ordering.

The most attractive feature of DubaiStore is that customers are assured of a shopping experience with a wide range of genuine and quality products offered by local licensed companies and validated by the Department of Economic Development of Dubai at a time when ecommerce is rapidly growing in the region and dominated by big players.

The DubaiStore online marketplace is unique in concept and design. It focuses primarily on promoting local licensed businesses with no conflict of interest with the sellers, since it does not own or sell any products of its own.

Abdallah Hassan Ahmed Hassan, CEO of Digital Economy Solutions (DES), said: “Following the directives of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council, who launched in 2019 the emirate’s e-commerce strategy that aims to strengthen Dubai’s status as a global logistics platform and accelerate online commerce growth, DES has developed a smart strategy to drive growth and support economic diversification in Dubai.”

“DubaiStore is a true example of DES and the government’s local contribution in accelerating the strategic plans and smart government initiatives aiming at digital transformation in Dubai. Our objective is to offer a business model that increases a healthy competition in the market for the benefit of the ecommerce world, while maintaining the best environment for safe and trusted shopping,” he said.