E-Commerce News & Trends

Cybez Takes Its E-Commerce Model from India to the UAE Market

India-based e-commerce marketing and consulting company Cybez has officially launched its operations in the United Arab Emirates. With its new office opened in Sharjah, the company aims to bring the e-commerce growth model it developed in India and the United States to D2C brands, retailers, and startups in the Gulf region.

Cybez to Focus on E-Commerce Brands in the UAE

Founded by Atul Jain, with Preeti Garg among its co-founders, the company offers solutions directly focused on e-commerce growth, unlike general digital marketing services. Its UAE operations will be carried out under “Cybez Worldwide FZC.” According to the company’s statement, the team has more than 40 years of combined experience in research, strategic planning, performance marketing, AI-powered SEO, website development, and conversion rate optimization.

Cybez states that it has completed 350 projects across 15 different sectors and served 150 clients to date. These sectors include fashion, lifestyle, food and beverage, health, and cosmetics. The company also has an office in Houston, United States.

AI-Powered SEO and Performance Marketing Stand Out

The services to be offered in the UAE include Shopify-based e-commerce website development, AI-powered SEO, Google and Meta advertising, performance marketing, customer retention, conversion rate optimization, marketplace marketing, competitive analysis, and digital audit services. The company follows a structure focused on increasing online traffic, converting visitors into customers, and retaining existing customers.

200 Percent Revenue Growth for D2C Brands

According to case studies shared by the company, premium footwear brand Rosso Brunello’s revenue increased by 200 percent through performance marketing efforts. In the same study, ROAS increased by 48.5 percent, while cost per acquisition decreased by 37 percent. Another client’s revenue nearly tripled within five months, while orders increased by 600 percent and a ROAS of more than 4x was achieved. In another project, the conversion rate increased from 0.77 percent to 1.16 percent within one week.

The brands Cybez has worked with include names such as Uniqlo, Sarita Handa, Raymond, Noise, Park Avenue, Lotus Herbals, and Callaway Golf. With its new UAE operation, the company plans to bring this experience to e-commerce and retail brands in the region.

Etsy Cuts 12% of Workforce Days After $1.4 Billion Depop Sale

Etsy is restructuring its business and cutting around 200 jobs just days after receiving $1.4 billion from the sale of its Depop marketplace to eBay, creating a striking contrast between the company’s fresh cash injection and its decision to reduce its workforce.

The company announced the layoffs on August 5, with the cuts affecting approximately 12% of its workforce. Most of the impacted positions are in product and engineering, according to reports. Etsy said the restructuring is designed to simplify its organizational structure, improve coordination and accelerate decision-making.

Layoffs Follow Strong Second-Quarter Performance

The workforce reduction came alongside Etsy’s second-quarter results, which showed continued growth in its core marketplace.

Etsy Marketplace revenue increased 9.3% year over year, while gross merchandise sales (GMS) rose 7.5% to approximately $2.6 billion. The company also reported comparable net income of $114 million, representing an increase of more than 50% from the previous year.

The results suggest that the layoffs are not simply a response to deteriorating marketplace performance. Instead, Etsy is positioning the restructuring as part of a broader effort to make the company more focused and efficient.

CEO Kruti Patel Goyal said cost savings would be a consequence of the restructuring rather than its primary objective. She also said the layoffs were not driven by artificial intelligence, although Etsy continues to use AI in product development and other areas of the business.

$1.4 Billion Depop Sale Adds to the Restructuring Story

The timing of the layoffs has drawn particular attention because Etsy completed the $1.4 billion sale of Depop to eBay on July 30, only six days before announcing the workforce reductions.

The transaction is part of Etsy’s broader strategy to streamline its portfolio and concentrate resources on its core marketplace. The company previously sold Reverb, another marketplace business, in 2025.

Rather than using the proceeds primarily to expand its workforce, Etsy is simultaneously restructuring its organization and returning capital to shareholders. The company has authorized an additional $2 billion share repurchase program.

Etsy Refocuses on Its Core Marketplace

The latest moves highlight a broader shift in Etsy’s strategy: moving away from operating multiple marketplaces and toward strengthening its flagship Etsy platform.

The company expects the restructuring to be substantially completed by the end of the third quarter of 2026. Employees affected by the cuts are expected to receive severance packages, including at least 16 weeks of pay and extended healthcare coverage, according to the company’s disclosures.

For Etsy, the combination of marketplace growth, portfolio divestments, workforce restructuring and a major share-buyback authorization signals a more focused phase of its business strategy.

The company is now betting that a leaner organization and greater concentration on its core marketplace can translate recent financial momentum into sustainable long-term growth.

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Hepsiburada Reports 13.4% Order Growth in Q2 2026 as GMV Reaches TRY 56.7 Billion

Hepsiburada continued to expand customer activity and order volumes in the second quarter of 2026, highlighting the Turkish e-commerce platform’s growing transaction scale despite continued pressure on profitability.

The company reported 19.5 million orders in Q2, up 13.4% from the same period last year, while the number of active customers reached 11.5 million. Order frequency also increased, suggesting that existing customers are shopping more frequently on the platform.

Orders Rise as Customers Shop More Frequently

One of the strongest signals from Hepsiburada’s latest results was the increase in purchasing frequency.

Customers placed an average of 7.4 orders during the quarter, compared with 6.5 orders in Q2 2025. At the same time, active customers increased 2.5% year over year.

However, the higher order volume was accompanied by a 9.4% decline in average order value, reflecting changes in consumer purchasing behavior.

Hepsiburada’s marketplace remained the main driver of its commerce business, accounting for 68.6% of GMV during the quarter.

GMV Growth Remains Positive

Hepsiburada generated TRY 56.7 billion in gross merchandise value (GMV) during Q2, up 2.8% year over year. Revenue increased 3.1% to TRY 22.8 billion.

Looking at the first half of 2026, the growth picture becomes stronger. GMV reached TRY 118.6 billion, representing a 14.7% increase from the first half of 2025.

Total orders for the first six months reached 39.8 million, up 17.7% year over year.

The figures point to continued expansion in transaction activity, even as the platform operates in an environment where consumers are becoming more selective about spending.

Profitability Becomes a Key Challenge

While customer engagement improved, Hepsiburada faced greater pressure on its bottom line.

The company recorded a TRY 1.89 billion net loss in Q2, compared with a TRY 956.2 million loss in the same period last year.

EBITDA also declined to TRY 239.2 million from TRY 976.9 million a year earlier.

Hepsiburada said its results reflected continued investments in growth initiatives, highlighting the challenge of balancing expansion with profitability as the platform scales.

Hepsiburada Expands Into Consumer Finance

Beyond its core marketplace operations, the company is also continuing to build out its broader commerce ecosystem.

In June, Hepsiburada launched Hepsitaksit, a new financing product designed to give customers additional flexibility when making purchases.

During its first month, transactions through Hepsitaksit represented 0.4% of total GMV, marking an early step in the company’s efforts to integrate financial services more closely with its e-commerce platform.

A Mixed Picture for Turkish E-Commerce

Hepsiburada’s Q2 results offer a broader snapshot of the evolving Turkish e-commerce market.

The platform is attracting more orders and encouraging customers to shop more frequently, while GMV continues to grow over the first half of the year. At the same time, lower average order values and increased investment are creating pressure on profitability.

As Hepsiburada moves into the second half of 2026, the key question will be whether it can turn stronger customer engagement and higher transaction volumes into more sustainable financial performance.

For now, the company’s latest results show an e-commerce business continuing to scale – but with efficiency and profitability becoming increasingly important alongside growth.

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ONDC Crosses 500 Million Transactions as India Expands Open Digital Commerce Network

India’s government-backed Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) has surpassed 500 million cumulative transactions, marking a major milestone as the network expands beyond traditional e-commerce into mobility, public transport, logistics and other digital services.

ONDC Reaches 500 Million Transactions

ONDC crossed the 500 million cumulative transaction mark in July 2026, highlighting the rapid growth of India’s open digital commerce infrastructure.

The network recorded just 0.2 million transactions in FY2023 before reaching 218 million transactions during FY2026. Its ecosystem now includes more than 200,000 active retail merchants and over 1 million service providers across mobility and logistics.

Expansion Beyond E-Commerce

ONDC is increasingly being used for services beyond online shopping. More than 1 million drivers have joined the network’s ride-hailing ecosystem, while around 80% of India’s metro ticketing inventory is now available through ONDC.

As of June 2026, the network was facilitating more than 370,000 public transport trips per day through over 35 buyer applications, covering nine metro systems and four city bus operators.

The network is also expanding into tourism, agriculture and other service categories.

Supporting Small Businesses and Farmers

ONDC is playing a growing role in helping India’s small businesses participate in the digital economy.

Through the MSME TEAM Initiative, the Indian government has approved ₹277.35 crore for FY2025–FY2027. The programme supports MSMEs with onboarding, product cataloguing, account management, logistics and packaging.

More than 800 independent sellers and eight aggregator entities representing over 1,500 Farmer Producer Organisations have also joined the network through the Amazing India initiative.

Growing Logistics and Retail Ecosystem

ONDC’s logistics ecosystem includes more than 50 hyperlocal logistics providers, while over 60,000 merchants are using ONDC Logistics.

More than 50 brands across food delivery, quick commerce, pharmacy and other retail categories are also leveraging the network across more than 150 cities.

The DigiDukaan initiative has further supported digital adoption among local retailers, with more than 13,000 kirana stores onboarded across Hyderabad and Jaipur.

Building an Open Digital Commerce Infrastructure

Unlike conventional e-commerce marketplaces, ONDC operates as an open and interoperable network that allows buyers and sellers using different applications to connect through common standards.

The model is designed to reduce dependence on individual platforms while creating greater opportunities for businesses, consumers and service providers to participate in India’s digital economy.

The milestone of 500 million transactions reflects ONDC’s evolution from an e-commerce initiative into a broader digital public infrastructure connecting commerce, mobility, logistics and public services.

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E-Commerce Spending in Saudi Arabia Increased by 42 Percent

Saudi Arabia recorded an increase in retail spending in the first quarter of 2026, driven by strong consumer demand, stable inflation, and growth in the non-oil economy. E-commerce spending in the country increased by 42 percent year-on-year.

According to Knight Frank data, consumer spending in the country rose by 6.8 percent compared with the same period last year, reaching 425 billion riyals, or approximately $113.3 billion. This amount included point-of-sale transactions, cash withdrawals, and online shopping.

E-Commerce Spending in Saudi Arabia Rose by 42 Percent

E-commerce spending in Saudi Arabia increased by 42 percent year-on-year in the first quarter of 2026. Growth in online shopping, together with physical stores, supported the country’s overall retail performance. Consumer spending conducted through official payment channels had reached a record level of 1.57 trillion riyals in 2025.

Non-Oil Economy Supported Retail

The country’s economy grew by 3 percent in the first quarter of 2026, while non-oil activities expanded by 2.9 percent. During the same period, inflation remaining at 1.8 percent contributed to maintaining consumer confidence despite regional geopolitical tensions.

Faisal Durrani, Head of Research for the Middle East and North Africa at Knight Frank, stated that consumer spending remained resilient against regional uncertainties. Durrani said that non-oil economic growth, stable inflation, and rising household incomes supported retailers’ confidence.

Shopping Malls Are Transforming into Experience Destinations

It was stated that consumers are increasingly turning to spaces offering family entertainment, education-focused activities, sports, events, and social activities in addition to shopping and food and beverage options. This trend is leading developers to redesign retail spaces in a way that provides more comprehensive customer experiences. (Saudi Arabia)

Under Vision 2030, the aim is to increase the annual number of visitors to 150 million by 2030 and raise tourism’s contribution to gross domestic product to 10 percent. The program is expected to support demand in the retail, hospitality, entertainment, and e-commerce sectors.

Saudi Arabia Leads as MENA Startups Raise $96.1 Million in Two Weeks

CarrefourSA Completes Majority Ownership Transfer to Yeni Mağazacılık

Ownership Transfer Officially Completed

ISTANBUL – CarrefourSA has officially completed the transfer of its majority ownership to Yeni Mağazacılık A.Ş., the retail company behind Türkiye’s discount chain A101, following the receipt of all required regulatory approvals.

The transaction covers 89.28% of CarrefourSA’s shares, previously held by Sabancı Holding and Carrefour Nederland BV. With the closing of the deal, CarrefourSA becomes part of Aydın Group’s retail portfolio under Yeni Mağazacılık.

CarrefourSA and A101 to Continue as Separate Brands

Despite the acquisition, CarrefourSA and A101 will continue to operate as separate brands, maintaining independent management structures, distinct retail formats, and their existing brand identities. The companies emphasized that the integration is designed to strengthen CarrefourSA’s financial position while preserving its premium supermarket positioning, with A101 continuing to focus on the discount retail segment.

CarrefourSA will remain under the leadership of CEO Hatice Evren, who will oversee the company’s next phase of growth. Aydın Group stated that the retailer will benefit from stronger financial backing, enabling investments in customer experience, supplier partnerships, employee development, and nationwide expansion.

Growth Strategy Focuses on Expansion and Investment

According to Erhan Bostan, Board Member of Aydın Group, the company aims to leverage CarrefourSA’s strengths in fresh food, product variety, and quality while expanding its footprint across Türkiye. The group plans to increase accessibility by opening new stores and strengthening collaboration with local suppliers, contributing to employment and the country’s organized retail sector.

The completed transaction marks a significant development in Türkiye’s organized retail sector, strengthening Aydın Group’s multi-brand strategy while allowing CarrefourSA and A101 to continue serving different customer segments.

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Jay3lle Launches Global E-Commerce Platform, Expanding International Reach

Saudi luxury golf-fashion brand Jay3lle has officially launched its global e-commerce platform, marking a major milestone in its international expansion strategy and enabling customers worldwide to shop its collections directly online.

The digital launch follows the brand’s successful debut in Riyadh and growing international presence through events in Paris and New York. With its new direct-to-consumer platform, Jay3lle is making its collections accessible to a global audience while strengthening its omnichannel retail strategy.

Saudi Luxury Brand Goes Global

Founded in Riyadh, Jay3lle blends luxury fashion with golf-inspired design, targeting a new generation of consumers seeking premium lifestyle apparel. The company celebrated the launch of its e-commerce platform at New York City’s Golden Unicorn, highlighting its ambition to transform from a regional fashion label into a globally recognized luxury brand.

The online store allows customers from around the world to purchase Jay3lle’s collections directly, eliminating geographical barriers and supporting the brand’s expansion into key international markets.

Digital Commerce Drives Growth Strategy

The e-commerce launch forms a core part of Jay3lle’s broader growth roadmap, which combines digital retail with physical experiences. Earlier this year, the company showcased its collections in Paris to build relationships with global retailers before opening worldwide online sales.

By investing in direct-to-consumer commerce, Jay3lle aims to strengthen customer engagement, increase brand visibility, and gain greater control over the consumer experience while expanding beyond the Middle East.

Omnichannel Vision

Jay3lle plans to complement its online platform with physical retail expansion, including a flagship store in Riyadh scheduled for 2027. The company is also exploring branded hospitality and lifestyle concepts as part of its long-term strategy, positioning itself as more than a fashion label.

The combination of digital commerce, experiential retail, and international partnerships reflects a growing trend among luxury brands seeking to deliver seamless omnichannel experiences to global consumers.

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Fashion Remains Western Europe’s Largest E-Commerce Category as Gen Z Reshapes Growth

Western Europe’s online fashion market is entering a more mature phase, with fashion continuing to account for around 20% of total online consumer spending despite slower category growth. According to NielsenIQ’s latest research, evolving consumer behavior, second-hand shopping, and value-focused platforms are redefining competition across the region.

Fashion Holds Strong Despite Market Maturity

Fashion remains one of the most resilient sectors in Western European e-commerce, representing approximately one-fifth of total online spending across major markets. However, while overall e-commerce sales increased by 5% over the past year, online fashion sales grew at a slower pace of 3%, signaling a shift toward a more mature market where brands must compete through innovation rather than rapid category expansion.

The findings come from NielsenIQ’s “Decoding the Fashion E-commerce European Market in 2026” report, which analyzed purchasing behavior from more than two million online shoppers across ten European countries.

Fragmented Competition Creates New Winners

The report highlights a rapidly evolving competitive landscape where traditional online fashion retailers are facing increasing pressure from diverse business models. Consumers are now shopping across marketplaces, direct-to-consumer brands, off-price retailers, resale platforms, and social commerce channels.

Major platforms including Zalando, Amazon, Vinted, Shein, Temu, and TikTok Shop continue to attract shoppers by serving different priorities such as affordability, convenience, sustainability, and product discovery. This growing fragmentation is making customer acquisition and loyalty more challenging for fashion brands.

Gen Z and Resale Drive the Next Growth Phase

Generation Z is emerging as one of the strongest forces shaping Europe’s digital fashion economy. Younger consumers increasingly favor value-oriented shopping experiences, social commerce, and second-hand fashion, accelerating the mainstream adoption of resale platforms.

At the same time, consumers aged 40-44 remain among the highest spenders in online fashion, giving premium and omnichannel retailers opportunities to balance growth across multiple customer segments.

Sportswear Continues to Outperform

Sportswear remains one of the fastest-growing segments within European online fashion. According to the report, 71% of sportswear brands recorded growth during the past year, compared with 51% of fashion brands overall.

The continued popularity of the “gorpcore” trend-combining outdoor-inspired apparel with everyday fashion-is helping drive higher consumer spending and stronger category performance.

Black Friday and Value Shopping Stay Critical

Promotional events continue to play a major role in online fashion sales. Black Friday now represents approximately 9% of annual online fashion revenue across Europe, while shoppers are increasingly willing to experiment with new brands during major discount periods.

As consumers become more price-conscious, retailers that combine competitive pricing with personalized shopping experiences are expected to gain market share in the coming years.

Looking Ahead

NielsenIQ concludes that Western Europe’s fashion e-commerce market is entering a new stage where sustainable growth will depend less on market expansion and more on understanding evolving consumer preferences. With Gen Z, resale platforms, sportswear, and value-driven retail models reshaping purchasing behavior, brands that invest in customer insights and differentiated shopping experiences will be best positioned for long-term success.

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1,000 Women Entrepreneurs in Sharjah to Receive Free Online Stores

The Sharjah Business Women Council has launched a new e-commerce program worth a total of AED 3.6 million ($980,000) to strengthen the activities of women-led businesses in the digital retail market. Under the one-year program, which will be carried out in cooperation with Packman Portal LLC, 1,000 fully integrated online stores will be provided to council members who meet the required conditions.

The program was announced following the signing of a memorandum of understanding by Maryam Bin Al Shaikh, Director of the Sharjah Business Women Council, and Mohamed Al Rashed, Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer of Packman Portal LLC.

Each Store in the Sharjah Program Is Worth AED 3,600

Each entrepreneur participating in the program will benefit from a free e-commerce store with an annual value of AED 3,600. The package offered will include a dedicated website for the business, payment infrastructure, a product management system, an administrative dashboard, customizable design features, hands-on training, and continuous technical support.

Thanks to this infrastructure, women entrepreneurs will be able to launch a new online retail operation or expand their existing digital operations. The program aims to help businesses reach broader customer groups with their products and increase their competitiveness in e-commerce.

Free Service for a Second Year for Those Receiving 365 Orders

Under the agreement, businesses that receive at least 365 customer orders during the first year will also be able to benefit from the e-commerce store service free of charge in the second year. In this way, the support will cover not only the establishment of the store but also the continuation of the digital growth of businesses that actively generate sales.

Maryam Bin Al Shaikh stated that, for many entrepreneurs, the greatest challenge is not creating a good product or service, but ensuring that customers discover those products and services. Al Shaikh said that a strong digital presence has become a necessity in today’s economy and noted that the cooperation would bring technological infrastructure together with practical knowledge.

Al Shaikh stated that, through the program, women business owners would be able to establish a professional online presence, reach wider markets, and grow their businesses more securely. She also emphasized that women-led businesses with improved digital capabilities would contribute to Sharjah’s entrepreneurial ecosystem and the UAE’s digital economy.

Artificial Intelligence Will Accelerate Online Store Setup

Packman’s artificial intelligence-powered system can automatically create the store structure, product categories, and content after entrepreneurs describe their businesses in natural language. The company states that, with this infrastructure, online stores can be made ready for use in less than one hour. The platform also provides the opportunity to manage payment, inventory, orders, warehousing, shipping, and operational processes through a single dashboard.

Packman Portal Founder and CEO Abdulaziz Almulhem said that every entrepreneur, regardless of their starting point, should have access to the tools required to compete in the digital economy. Almulhem stated that the partnership was part of their goal to support entrepreneurs first in the UAE and then in regional and global markets.

Training on Digital Marketing and Inventory Management Will Be Provided

As part of the program, practical workshops will be organized on digital entrepreneurship, e-commerce store setup, inventory and product management, digital marketing, customer service, performance optimization, and sustainable business growth. The parties will also develop awareness campaigns and new joint projects to increase the participation of women-led businesses in Sharjah’s digital economy. The UAE e-commerce market generated approximately $8.1 billion, equivalent to AED 29.8 billion, in revenue in 2025. The market is expected to continue growing at an annual rate of between 10% and 15% throughout 2026.

Sharjah Islamic Bank Launches SIB Pay to Expand Digital Payments in UAE

Allegro Group GMV Rises 14% as International Expansion Accelerates

Polish e-commerce giant Allegro Group reported strong growth in the first half of 2026, with Gross Merchandise Value (GMV) increasing by 13.7% year-over-year. The company also recorded a remarkable 64.8% surge in international GMV, highlighting the success of its expansion strategy across Central and Eastern Europe.

Strong First-Half Performance

Allegro Group’s preliminary second-quarter results show continued momentum despite a competitive e-commerce environment. The company’s GMV reached a 13.7% increase during the first six months of 2026 compared to the same period last year, reflecting sustained consumer demand and healthy marketplace activity.

The performance was driven by steady growth in Allegro’s domestic Polish business, alongside rapid gains in its international operations.

International Business Continues to Expand

One of the standout highlights from the results was the company’s international marketplace performance.

International GMV increased by 64.8%, demonstrating strong customer adoption in markets including the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary. Allegro has continued investing in localisation, logistics capabilities and merchant acquisition to strengthen its regional presence.

The rapid international growth supports the company’s long-term ambition of becoming a leading e-commerce marketplace across Central Europe.

AI Investments and Customer Experience

According to Allegro CEO Marcin Kuśmierz, the company is maintaining strong growth by improving its core marketplace while expanding into new market segments.

He noted that Allegro continues to invest heavily in artificial intelligence, operational efficiency and customer-centric services to improve both the shopping experience and merchant performance.

These investments are expected to enhance product discovery, logistics optimisation and marketplace efficiency while supporting future growth.

Regional Strategy Delivers Results

Allegro’s strategy focuses on combining its established leadership in Poland with rapid expansion into neighbouring European markets.

The company’s international business has become an increasingly important growth driver, helping diversify revenue while creating additional opportunities for merchants looking to sell across borders.

Industry analysts expect continued investment in technology, logistics infrastructure and AI-powered services to support Allegro’s long-term regional ambitions.

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