M.H. Alshaya Co. has acquired a stake in Noon, the new e-commerce site backed by Dubai businessman Mohamed Alabbar.
The value of the deal and size of the stake were not disclosed.
Alshaya will also become a seller on Noon’s marketplace platform, listing a portfolio of international brands covering the fashion, health and beauty and home and lifestyle categories, a statement said.
Alshaya is a multinational retail franchise operator that is headquartered in Kuwait, and operates more than 80 of the world's best-known retail brands across the Middle East and North Africa, Russia, Turkey and Europe.
Announced in November last year, Noon - which is also backed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund - was slated to launch in January, but is yet to begin operations.
The statement on Wednesday affirmed that the site was on track to “launch later this year”, although no specific date was revealed.
Mohammed Alshaya, executive chairman of Alshaya, said: “We see great value in our partnership with Noon, which complements our existing online channels. Our partnership with Noon will allow us to expand our customer base, reach new market segments, and participate in the next level of growth in regional e-commerce.”
Alshaya is the latest large retailer to list its products on Noon, which will offer international brands covering categories targetting youth, families and children.
“Noon brings a new business model for e-commerce, developing a strong supply chain that benefits regional businesses. We will work with the region’s leading brands and retailers to help them grow their business through Noon,” said Mohamed Alabbar, founder of Noon.
Noon will compete for customers with the region’s current largest platform Souq.com, which was acquired by Amazon for an estimated $650m earlier this year.
By Aarti Nagraj
