Dubai-based marketplace aggregator and digital distributor, YallaHub, is entering Saudi Arabia and Qatar with a revolutionary e-commerce solution for small, medium, and enterprise brands in Q2 2023. It helps entrepreneurs to develop and scale their businesses in the Middle East and North Africa markets through YallaHub’s ready-made infrastructure and technologies.

YallaHub works as an e-commerce enabler (B2B2C), integrating all e-commerce market parties into one technological and scaling platform. As part of its services, the startup provides: UAE launch support and market analytics, export-import assistance, registration and licensing, storage and fulfilment, rent payment gateway, customer service teams, marketplaces and aggregators listing, marketing tools, quick e-commerce website setup, super-fast delivery across Dubai, and all-UAE delivery for YallaHub brands.

Since its launch, YallaHub has introduced over 45 brands into the UAE market including cosmetics & perfumery, personal care, beauty goods & accessories, food and beverage, dietary supplements, home care, small electronic devices, pet products and others. Among the brands are VkusVill, Pusy Beauty, Romanovamakeup, m.21, Minimalist, Biocera, Just Care, Merries, Feely Perfume, Biocera, Beauty Bite, Ingresso Coffee, №1 Caviar, Narzan Water, See-Eco Foods, Minimalist, Prime Nuts, House of Randa, Share Lifestyle, and others. 

In 2023, the startup aims to expand into Saudi Arabia and Qatar, attracting 100+ brands and reaching US $10M in annual recurring revenue (ARR). In 2023-2024, YallaHub is planning to enter three other GCC countries: Oman, Kuwait and Bahrain.

Saudi Arabia and Qatar were chosen after several rounds of research within the MENA region. The current stake is taken on the fast-growing markets, a flourishing fintech sector, economic stability, young and tech-savvy populations, impressive levels of internet penetration up to 99.0 percent, as well as the hunger for technology and digitization in these countries.

"I am delighted to announce our strategic plans to expand into the rapidly growing markets of Saudi Arabia and Qatar," said Leo Dovbenko, CEO and co-founder of YallaHub. "Our innovative marketplace aggregator and digital distributor platform will empower small, medium, and enterprise brands from any country to successfully grow their business, overcome obstacles in accessing the GCC market, optimize their budget, easily cross the borders and reduce time to market entry."

YallaHub is a shortcut to the GCC market, equipped to work with numerous sales channels at once: 10+ aggregators and marketplaces (Talabat, Noon, Careem, Zomato, Amazon, Instashop, Deliveroo, NowNow), e-commerce platforms, as well as the merchant's own sales channels. 

As part of its plans, the company aims to raise a $5 million series A funding round this summer.  

The MENA region is the fastest-growing e-commerce market, its size is expected to reach US$57 billion by 2026, with an 11% annual growth rate over the 2022-2026 period. Moreover, the number of sellers in MENA is expected to grow by seven times in three years. A McKinsey report from September 2022 reveals that “the digitization trend, coupled with the ease of comparing prices online, has increased online shopping activity across categories. The number of people in the UAE and KSA who shop online weekly has doubled in two years. Moreover, their online shopping basket is highly diverse, consisting of not just groceries but also household cleaning products, toys, baby supplies, consumer electronics, footwear, and apparel.”