SOUQ.com, claimed as the largest online and marketplace platform in the Middle East, hosted SOUQ Engage 2016, in Riyadh.
The event was described as the first of its kind to help SMEs and sellers in the Middle East grow their business experience.
The conference provided an integrated platform for sellers to interact with the SOUQ.com leadership team and accustom themselves with the company’s new offerings and enrich their experience.
Saleem Hammad, GM, SOUQ.com, introduced the company’s new Fulfilled by SOUQ and SOUQ selling center programs.
Fulfilled by SOUQ.com is a program built on the foundation of an advanced fulfillment network that offers “unparalleled benefits” to both sellers and customers.
Hammad highlighted the role and importance of SMEs in the e-commerce ecosystem and SOUQ.com’s commitment to help them overcome the challenges in the industry.
He maintained that the sellers are the backbone of SOUQ.com’s success.
“Thus, we are constantly innovating across our platform and investing in technology giving them the power to build and help grow their businesses.”
Hammad added: “The Kingdom is one of our most important markets and as the largest e-commerce platform in the region, we are always looking for opportunities to not only broaden our horizon but also help our sellers and consumers optimize their e-commerce experience.”
He added: “We are committed to assisting sellers in kick-starting their businesses online and further equipping and coaching them to grow profitably with us.”
Hammad underscored that startups and SMEs need solid technology platforms, technical assistance, robust last mile delivery network and market exposure to develop and grow their business, and that is where SOUQ.com comes in as a strategic partner to help create business opportunities for growth.
At the end of the event, top sellers across different categories were honored.
SOUQ Engage aims to provide selling experience
SOUQ Engage aims to provide selling experience
Jeeny launches First–Last Mile Access in partnership with Medina Bus
Jeeny has announced the introduction of its First-Last Mile Access Program in collaboration with Medina Bus, marking a significant step forward in Saudi Arabia's transportation reform.
Passengers who buy a Medina Bus ticket can now get discounted Jeeny rides to and from key bus stops, making public transportation more accessible for both residents and pilgrims.
While the initiative appears modest, it represents a far wider vision: the first operational phase of Jeeny's goal to develop Saudi Arabia's next-generation Integrated Mobility Platform, an integrated framework that will eventually connect numerous modes of transportation under one seamless consumer experience.
Medina was chosen as the launch location because of its national importance and growing demand for efficient transportation.
In 2024, the city's bus network handled 1.72 million people, and demand is predicted to increase further in 2025.
Medina, being one of the Kingdom's most popular destinations, provides a real-world setting for evaluating concepts that can then be scaled across the country.
“This marks the beginning of a mobility shift in Saudi Arabia, where public transport and private operators can work together to offer a seamless journey,” said Hammad Ehtesham, CEO of Jeeny. “Making it easier for people to reach public transport is the foundation of a future where every mode of mobility in the Kingdom connects effortlessly.”
With millions of rides every year in Saudi Arabia and Jordan, Jeeny has developed into one of the top mobility platforms in the area.
The company, which employs over 400 people and has one of the biggest active driver networks in the Kingdom, is currently getting ready for its next stage: a nationwide mobility ecosystem that will support buses, ride-hailing, micro-mobility, pilgrim mobility services, and end-to-end travel solutions, including direct flight booking through Jeeny.
Despite the fact that Medina's First-Last Mile initiative is relatively new, early feedback shows that users are really interested in more accessible transportation options.
Similar First-Last Mile initiatives can increase public transportation usage by 15 to 25 percent, according to international research, underscoring the wider potential impact as Jeeny considers expanding to more Saudi cities.
“What begins in Medina will become a blueprint for the Kingdom’s connected mobility future,” Ehtesham added. “This is the first step toward a nationwide ecosystem that will make movement simpler, smarter, and more accessible for everyone.”
Passengers on Medina Bus are now able to make use of the Jeeny First-Last Mile Access Program, which supports Saudi Arabia's vision for contemporary, sustainable, and inclusive mobility while providing a new, more convenient means of accessing public transportation.
