18 June 2017

American e-commerce giant Amazon is moving full steam speed ahead with its entry into the Gulf market and has started advertising for staff in the region.

In a job posting on LinkedIn over the weekend, Amazon said it was looking for a ‘Manager, International Public Policy’ in the Middle East.

It said the role would involve increasing awareness of e-commerce and communicating to policymakers in Gulf Arab states on how Amazon is unlocking opportunities for small and medium-sized businesses, job creation, and economic growth, in the six-nation Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), as well as Egypt.

The position, to be based out of Dubai, Abu Dhabi or Saudi Arabia, would report to Amazon’s senior manager for Global Trade Policy in Seattle, the post added.

In March, Amazon fended off an $800 million bid by Dubai’s Emaar Malls, a unit of Emaar Properties, to acquire 100 percent of Middle East online retailer Souq.com.

In November last year, Dubai billionaire and Emaar Properties chairman Mohamad Alabbar teamed up with Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund and other private investors to announced its $1 billion online shopping platform Noon.com, that was due to launch in January 2017.

While the venture has yet to launch, in May a fund led by Dubai billionaire and Emaar Properties chairman Mohamad Alabbar acquired UAE-founded online marketplace JadoPado.

In the same month, Alabbar’s Noon, was dealt a tough blow with the departure of its CEO, as well as its newly appointed chief technology officer and other staff.

Meanwhile, Alabbar said that Noon.com was “on track” to go live before the end of 2017.

Amazon also invited candidates to connect with the company for “general consideration”.

Further reading:
Amazon clinches deal to buy Middle East online retailer Souq.com
Timeline: The Clash of the Titans: the Middle East e-commerce battle heats up
Amazon's Souq v Alabbar's Noon: the Middle East's e-commerce battle

© Express 2017