- E-commerce giant bought Souq for $580m in 2017, its first venture in the Mideast
- Service remains unchanged in Saudi Arabia and Egypt
DUBAI: The Middle East online retail site Souq.com has been rebranded as Amazon.ae in the UAE, according to a company announcement.
Multinational e-commerce giant Amazon bought Souq for $580 million in 2017, its first venture into the Middle East.
Souq now redirects to the new Amazon site when accessed in the UAE, although remains unchanged in Saudi Arabia and Egypt, according to press reports.
Customers in the UAE are presented with a statement issued by the company’s co-founder Ronaldo Mouchawar.
“Today marks a proud day for Souq and Amazon, a day that we have been working toward since the two companies came together in 2017,” Mouchawar, the newly appointed vice president of Amazon MENA, wrote.
“Amazon.ae brings together Souq’s local know-how and Amazon’s global expertise, something we believe will be of significant benefit to UAE customers. Our combined team in the region has grown to over 3,600 employees … we will continue to grow our product range, ensure great prices, and provide a convenient and safe shopping experience.”
Amazon.ae features over 30 million products from local and international businesses, including products previously available on Souq, and 5 million products from Amazon US, the company said.
Arabic language has been introduced to both the mobile app and website “for the first time ever at Amazon,” the company said.