OpenSooq, a classifieds platform for MENA (via Twitter)

The MENA online classified platform OpenSooq has announced a strategic partnership with LINE, a leading social messaging and calling application.

OpenSooq is a MENA based online classified platform, founded in 2008, that allows users to advertise and browse products and services, such as real estate, electronics, furnitures, and more.

Founded in Japan in 2011, LINE has become the leading social network in Japan, Taiwan, and Thailand. Though LINE is a young company, it has boomed in popularity in recent years and is growing at an alarming rate.

“We are happy to announce this partnership, which will allow us to connect with our customers in MENA and expand our reach,” said Anas Elayyan, head of business development at OpenSooq, in a prepared statement. He added that LINE’s partnership with OpenSooq will allow consumers to receive early offer and updates on their deals.

OpenSooq “considered a number of potential strategic partners,” Elayyan said, but LINE’s recent focus on the MENA region for 2015/2016 was a “selling point.”

“We are leveraging the growth [LINE is] currently experiencing in the MENA region to reach out to a larger user base for OpenSooq. [...] LINE is now heavily advertising on OpenSooq's platform, which is helping them reach out to more Arab consumers.”

The statement further indicates that “OpenSooq’s partnership with LINE is the first of many strategic partnerships it will announce this year.” The end-goal is to improve the user's comprehensive experience and allow them to get the best experience in the classifieds market in MENA.