If the pandemic has really given some businesses the opportunity to grow, Amazon has been one of the few. Even as they recently expanded into Saudi Arabia with a dedicated site and fulfillment center, Amazon is now going for the gold across the Middle East.
The e-commerce giant has announced that they’ve launched the international shopping experience to more countries in the GCC. Customers residing in Bahrain, Kuwait, and Oman can now shop thousands of items online through Amazon.ae.
This is quite a bold expansion move and it comes at the right time, as experts predict the GCC ecommerce market is expected to reach $19.7 billion by the end of 2020. It’s spurred on through necessity, given the coronavirus-enforced lockdowns and curfews across the region.
Same Amazon, now in more Arab countries
If you’re already familiar with the brand, then there’s no further explanation needed since shopping online is just that simple. Like any user, you will be able to choose from products across 31 categories, including electronics, clothing, watches, and toys.
Given the nature of the region, it’ll be available in Arabic and English. The international shopping experience on Amazon.ae customises each user’s experience depending on their location. With regards to the final purchase, customers can complete payments using both local and international debit and credit cards.
Shoppers from Bahrain, Kuwait, and Oman will see clear pricing, delivery times, and shipping costs fully inclusive of import fees. Even greater reassurance is that all cross-border customs clearance is managed by Amazon’s couriers on the customers behalf, as all orders will be shipped from the UAE.
So if you’re in any of these countries, how do you get started? Customers just need to get on the Amazon app (iOS/iPadOS/Android) or visit Amazon.ae, and then sign in with their current account details or set-up a new account.