Saudi - WORLDEF

Raff Raises $1.7 Million to Scale Retail Technology Across the GCC

Raff, the Saudi-based platform is helping consumer brands expand from online into physical retail by digitizing inventory, distribution, fulfillment and payments.

Raff retail technology is gaining momentum in the Gulf after the Saudi Arabia-based inventory management platform raised $1.7 million in pre-seed funding.

The round was led by Vision Ventures, with participation from 500 Global, Palm VC, Oqal Group and Salman Butt, co-founder of Salla.

The investment will support Raff’s expansion across the Gulf Cooperation Council, while also accelerating product development and the company’s artificial intelligence capabilities.

Helping Brands Move Into Physical Retail

Founded in 2024, Raff operates an end-to-end platform designed for consumer brands expanding into physical retail.

Its technology covers several parts of the retail operating model, including distribution, commercial operations, inventory management, order fulfilment and payments.

The platform also integrates with regional point-of-sale and accounting software, helping retailers automate workflows as their vendor and store networks become more complex.

This gives brands a single infrastructure layer for managing the operational challenges that come with moving beyond online sales.

Offline Expansion Still Creates Complexity

Raff is targeting a problem that is becoming increasingly relevant across the Gulf.

Launching and scaling an online business has become easier in recent years, supported by E-commerce platforms, digital payments, and marketplace infrastructure.

Expanding into physical stores is often more complicated.

Brands entering offline retail must manage inventory across multiple locations, coordinate distributors, track payments, handle fulfillment and connect with different retail systems.

Raff CEO Ali Al Qudah said that while barriers to online commerce have fallen, reaching customers offline still involves multiple operational and commercial hurdles.

The company aims to simplify that transition.

More Than 900 Brands Already Supported

Raff says it has already enabled more than 900 brands across nine countries to expand through physical retail.

That early traction suggests growing demand for technology that connects online-first brands with traditional retail networks.

The company’s model is particularly relevant as more digital-native brands seek additional growth through physical distribution.

Rather than treating online and offline as separate channels, Raff is positioning itself as the infrastructure connecting the two.

Funding Will Support GCC Expansion

The new capital will be used primarily to expand Raff’s presence across the GCC.

The region has become an increasingly active market for retail technology, driven by rapid digitalization, strong consumer spending and continued investment in modern retail infrastructure.

Raff also plans to invest further in product development and AI.

Artificial intelligence could play a larger role in inventory forecasting, order management, demand planning and operational automation as the platform grows.

Investors Look Beyond Online Commerce

The funding round also reflects a broader shift in investor thinking.

Vision Ventures previously invested in Salla, one of the companies that helped enable regional merchants’ move from offline commerce to online selling.

Raff represents the opposite trend.

Brands that grew online are now looking for more efficient ways to enter physical retail.

This makes retail infrastructure increasingly important.

The opportunity is no longer only about helping businesses launch online stores. It is also about helping digital brands manage stores, inventory, distribution and physical expansion without adding unnecessary operational complexity.

Gulf Retail Infrastructure Attracts More Capital

At $1.7 million, Raff’s round is relatively significant for a pre-seed investment and signals growing investor appetite for retail technology in the Gulf.

The company sits at the intersection of several major trends: omnichannel retail, AI, inventory management and regional expansion.

For GCC retailers and consumer brands, the challenge is increasingly less about choosing between online and offline.

It is about building systems that enable both channels to operate efficiently together.

Raff’s funding suggests investors see that integration as one of the next major opportunities in regional commerce.

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.

Source

Saudi Retail Revenues Rise 7.3% in Q1 as E-Commerce Growth Accelerates

Saudi retail activity continued to strengthen in the first quarter of 2026, with GASTAT data showing higher trade revenues, rising employee compensation, and faster e-commerce growth across the Kingdom.

Saudi retail and wholesale trade revenues recorded solid growth in the first quarter of 2026, underscoring continued expansion in consumer activity and private-sector momentum in the Kingdom. According to preliminary data released by the General Authority for Statistics, the wholesale and retail trade revenue index increased by 7.3 percent year on year in Q1 2026.

The Latest Saudi Retail Figures

The latest Saudi retail figures point to a market that remains resilient despite changing global economic conditions. The general operating revenue index for wholesale and retail trade also rose by 0.5 percent compared with the previous quarter, reaching 124.8 points. This quarterly improvement suggests that commercial activity in the Kingdom continued to expand steadily after the end of 2025.

GASTAT said the operating revenues index for retail trade, excluding motor vehicles and motorcycles, rose by 9.6 percent year on year. Wholesale trade, excluding motor vehicles and motorcycles, increased by 5.5 percent over the same period. Meanwhile, the sale and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles grew by 5.4 percent compared with the first quarter of 2025.

The performance of Saudi retail is closely linked to the Kingdom’s broader economic transformation agenda. Under Vision 2030, Saudi Arabia has been working to diversify its economy, increase private-sector contribution, and expand non-oil commercial activity. Wholesale and retail trade is one of the sectors that directly reflects consumer confidence, business activity, and the development of modern distribution channels.

On a quarterly basis, retail trade excluding motor vehicles and motorcycles increased by 1.3 percent, while wholesale trade rose by 1.8 percent. However, revenue from the sale and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles declined by 3.1 percent compared with the previous quarter. This mixed quarterly performance indicates that while general trade activity remained positive, some segments faced softer short-term demand.

Labor-related indicators also showed strong growth. The Employees Compensation Index increased by 10.1 percent year on year in the first quarter. Retail trade excluding motor vehicles recorded the highest rise in employee compensation, with growth of 11.4 percent. This was followed by motor vehicles and motorcycles at 8.2 percent and wholesale trade excluding motor vehicles at 8.1 percent.

The rise in labor compensation is significant for the Saudi retail sector because it may reflect higher employment, wage growth, or stronger business activity across trade segments. Compared with the previous quarter, employee compensation in retail trade rose by 1.8 percent, wholesale trade increased by 2.2 percent, and the sale and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles advanced by 0.5 percent.

E-commerce remained one of the strongest areas of growth. The E-commerce Sales Index climbed by 13.6 percent year on year in Q1 2026, outpacing the broader wholesale and retail trade market. This confirms that digital commerce continues to gain importance within Saudi retail, supported by changing consumer behavior, improved payment infrastructure, and stronger online marketplace activity.

Retail trade excluding motor vehicles led e-commerce growth with an 18.4 percent increase. Wholesale trade excluding motor vehicles followed with a 10 percent rise, while online sales linked to the sale and repair of motor vehicles and motorcycles grew by 3.2 percent. On a quarterly basis, e-commerce gains were more moderate, with retail rising 1.1 percent, wholesale trade increasing 0.7 percent, and motor vehicle-related online sales advancing 0.2 percent.

The Automobile Sales Index rose by 3.4 percent year on year in the first quarter of 2026, although it declined by 2.9 percent compared with the previous quarter. This suggests that vehicle sales remained stronger than a year earlier but experienced a slowdown from late 2025 levels.

Overall, the data shows that Saudi retail is benefiting from both traditional trade expansion and rapid digital transformation. The continued rise in operating revenues, employee compensation, and e-commerce sales highlights the sector’s growing role in Saudi Arabia’s non-oil economy.

For businesses, investors, and e-commerce players, the Q1 results send a clear signal: Saudi retail remains one of the most dynamic markets in the region. As digital channels expand and consumer demand continues to evolve, the Kingdom’s wholesale and retail trade sector is expected to remain a key driver of commercial growth in the years ahead.