E-commerce platform Noon launches in UAE
Mohamed Alabbar, the founder of Noon and one of its major backers. Image Credit: Christopher Pike / The National
By Noor Nanji
SOURCE: The National - E-commerce platform Noon launches in UAE
Noon.com, a US$1 billion e-commerce platform founded by the Emaar Properties chairman Mohamed Alabbar, has launched its operations in the UAE.
From Saturday September 30, customers can browse its catalogue of brands by visiting www.noon.com or by downloading the Noon Mobile App via Google Play Store. A mobile app via App Store will be available in the coming days.
Noon is also set to go live in Saudi Arabia “in the coming weeks”, the company said in a statement.
Mr Alabbar said: “Today, we are excited to deliver orders to our first customers. We are proud to take this important first step in our journey, and we are committed to making Noon the region’s Arabic-first e-commerce platform.”
He added: “As digital technologies cause disruptions across industries and geographies, it is important for us to shape a digital marketplace that is relevant to our local markets and serves as a growth platform for brick-and-mortar retailers.”
Its launch has been long awaited, as it had originally planned to go live in January 2017.
In July, it appointed Faraz Khalid, the co-founder of online fashion retailer Namshi.com, as its new chief executive, to help steer the company through its launch.
Noon is a joint venture project between Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund and a number of prominent Gulf investors.
Through partnerships with local retailers, Noon aims to provide the region’s customers with an assortment of products including electronics, fashion, beauty, baby, home & kitchen and grocery.
At launch, Noon offers a selection of fashion brands and an extensive selection of baby products and homeware. It also has a collection of modern gadgets and electronic goods targeted specifically at millennials.
Source: thenational.ae