By: Mahmoud Gamal

Dubai – Mubasher: Since its launch in 2017, Noon e-commerce platform has taken a group of progressive steps, while its founder and the chairman of Emaar Properties, Mohamed Alabbar, continued its enthusiastic statements about the new project’s potential.

Alabbar stated earlier that Noon is looking to expand in online groceries business within the next six months, adding that the e-retailer will be ready to compete against Amazon in the Middle East.

“We think the whole region needs a player like us. We know this market’s economy really well, we know the alleys and the issues…we should be able to penetrate all these markets,” the Emirati tycoon said.

Noon has a long list of suppliers and international goods, but it has to focus on branding in the coming period, capital market analyst Basel Abu Teima told Mubasher.

Marketing is a key factor to the success of Noon in any competition with Amazon, as the global platform offers the same products but with a cherry on the top, representing various offers and discounts, Abu Teima added.

Alabbar’s venture also needs to give some resources for its social responsibility, the analyst remarked.

Who can acquire the proper supply chain would win any competition, Reach Hospitality’s CEO Mohammad Shadeed noted.

Therefore, the founder of Noon bought a stake in Aramex in a bid to enhance the project’s delivery service and increase his advantage in the Middle East, Shadeed added.

In order to contend a gigantic corporation as Amazon, Noon must form partnerships with global companies, such as China’s Alibaba Group, which could help the Emirati online shopping platform to foray into Asian markets, the top official said.

In March, the US-based Amazon acquired Souq.com in a consideration of $580 million.

Translated by: Muhammad Khalid