On Monday, Dubai-based e-commerce giant Souq.com officially announced that millions of Amazon products from the U.S. are now available on its UAE-based platform.
The move follows Amazon’s acquisition of Souq.com earlier this year for an estimated $650m. Souq.com >said that Amazon Global Store products would be offered to UAE customers on its app and website.
Prices at checkout will include import fee deposits and delivery will take 2-5 business days for priority and six to 10 business days for expedited. In most cases, returns will be available for 30 days.
"When we acquired Souq.com, our goal was to provide the best possible service for millions of customers in the Middle East by supporting them with Amazon technology and global resources. Amazon Global Store is the first step of many in doing so, and represents Amazon’s confidence in the region and that our continued investment will provide customers with more of what they want,” said Samir Kumar, Amazon Vice President of International Retail in a press release.
Speaking to a local publication, Ronaldo Mouchawar, the CEO of Souq.com, said the firm is currently focused on the UAE market but has plans to make the store available to customers in the GCC and Egypt.
“We have sites across the region and we’ll be able to avail more markets in time, but we have to make sure the customer experience is intact and make sure we can scale it. So today, the focus is on the UAE,” he said.
Amazon Global Store will allow customers in the UAE to shop on Souq.com and Amazon simultaneously, in English or in Arabic, and pay for their purchases in local dirhams.