E-commerce site Noon.com finally goes live

The e-commerce online retail platform announced by Emaar Properties chairman Mohamed Alabbar in November last year has finally been launched.
Noon.com, which was originally planned to launch in January, has started offering an array of products — from smartphones to biscuits — from brands including Apple, Samsung, Burberry, Skechers and McVitie’s.
Customers in the UAE using mobile platforms can download the app available for Android devices via the Google Play Store. A version would be available Apple’s App Store “in the coming days,” while a launch in Saudi Arabia is expected “within the coming weeks,” the company said in a statement.
“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,” Alabbar said in the statement.
“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.”
The $1 billion e-commerce project is a joint venture between Emaar’s Alabbar, Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund and the Kuwaiti franchise operator MH Alshaya.
Noon.com was launched as an “Arabic-first” platform, with offices in Dubai and Riyadh, the company said.