Souq.com previews Windows 10 Universal App at Gitex; Top Universal Consumer App in the Middle East region

Mobilk - Souq.com, the largest e-commerce website in the Middle East previews its latest Windows 10 app at Gitex 2015. The Souq W10 app is the top universal consumer app in the region that delivers consistent experience across all Windows 10 devices including mobile, tablet as well as desktop.  Souq W10 app is designed specifically with the end user in mind and is set to further augment consumers’ ease and shopping experience.

Commenting on the launch, Ronaldo Mouchawar, CEO & Co-Founder of Souq.com, said: “We are delighted to launch Souq W10 app, the top universal consumer app in the region powered by Windows 10 universal app platform. At Souq.com, we are continuously striving to enhance our customers shopping experience and this launch is a revolutionary step in that direction.” 

Michael Mansour, Head of Apps and Innovation, Microsoft Gulf, said, “At the core of Universal Windows apps is the idea that users want their experiences to be mobile across all their devices, and they want to use whatever device is most convenient or productive for the task at hand. We are delighted to be supporting Souq.com in this novel initiative.”

Mouchawar added, “With the electronics being the leading category across e-commerce in the Middle East, the Souq W10 app will focus on electronics and deals, even more so than the Souq.com website. E-commerce is a dynamic industry and shopping online today is being in the moment, on the road, in a store, or watching TV. People want to be notified about deals in real time right as they happen. This next-generation solution empowers our customers to experience as well as drive change in a digital economy”, 

Souq W10 universal app comes as the next step after phenomenal success of Souq.com mobile app having already experienced two million downloads to date, and been listed as 2014’s top five mobile apps in the region. This app will enable the same set of services across universal platform, and help grow the penetration of e-commerce at a faster rate as well as reward Souq.com itinerant consumers. 

The Souq W10 app will offer a banner for daily deals on the homepage, as well as a section where shoppers can browse Deals of the Day, Clearance Items and Warehouse. There are two elements that the app will make very clear: search, and deals. The app will be multilingual and have four different catalogues for four focus markets for Souq.com- the UAE, KSA, Egypt and Kuwait.

The UAE is one of the strongest mobile commerce markets in the world. According to a PayPal Ipsos report (2014-2015), around 57 per cent of online shoppers in the UAE purchased online via a smartphone over the last 12 months, second only to China’s ranking at 68 per cent.  The country also boasts one of the world’s highest smartphone penetration.

Souq.com is seeing continued growth in online shopping. Currently, one in two consumers in the UAE has shopped on Souq.com, with an item sold every 1.5 seconds. As more consumers are turning to the largest online shopping destination in the Arab world, expectations are also increasing. Souq.com ensures customers are provided with secure payment options, free delivery, as well as a one-year warrantee on all electrical goods.