Start Up of the Month: Go Ejaza - or "go holiday" – is an online travel agency in the Middle East. Sounds like a simple enough premise, but thanks to the fact that the website is entirely in Arabic, the Cairo-based start up is already garnering some attention in the region. Recently, a finalist in the Seedstars World competition at Banque Du Liban’s Accelerate 2014, they are currently finishing up their time at Flat6Labs accelerator in Egypt.
“There is a real need for this service,” explains founder Hussein Al-Sakkaf as he shows pictures of Arabs on vacation around the world. He is clear that although the website is in Arabic and catering to the Middle East, the destinations El Ejaza services are worldwide, from Paris to Bankok.
Although Go Ejaza is not offering something revolutionary like the "newest social media network", the website is servicing a huge, Arabic-speaking market that is, according to them, largely untapped in terms of travel website options.
In addition to searching for hotel and flight reservations in Arabic, the website functions similarly to a travel agent, allowing users to search for restaurants, activities and landmarks in destinations. Users can then create itineraries. The website also offers package deals for accommodation or cheap tickets for flights. Al-Sakkaf hopes that as the business grows, they can offer more deals worldwide.
Their number one target market? The Gulf.
“85% of Arab travelers are from the Gulf market, that is a very important region for us,” said Al-Sakkaf, who is from Yemen.
So far, Go Ejaza has received $200,000 as part of their Series A funding. They are continuing to look for additional funds.
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