UAE-based e-commerce logistics provider Quiqup has rolled out “Shop Local,” a new initiative and online platform designed to connect UAE consumers with local small and medium-sized businesses (SMEs). The platform acts as a curated marketplace, aiming to solve the critical challenge of visibility for local brands in a competitive digital landscape.
Quick Facts
- Platform: “Shop Local” marketplace launched.
- Goal: Increase visibility for UAE SMEs.
- Traction: 190 brand submissions received.
Tackling SME Visibility
For many small businesses in the UAE, getting noticed by the right customers is a constant struggle. “Shop Local” offers a direct channel for these brands to build awareness and generate sales by aggregating them onto a single, easy-to-navigate platform. This allows consumers to discover and purchase from local businesses they might not have found otherwise.
Bassel El Koussa, CEO of Quiqup, explained the vision behind the initiative. “Small and local businesses are a vital part of the UAE’s economy, and supporting them is one of the most meaningful ways to contribute to the wider community,” he said. “For us, this is about creating more opportunities for local brands to build momentum, deepen customer connections, and strengthen their presence in the market.”
Ecosystem Support in Action
The launch highlights the role of the UAE’s broader innovation ecosystem in fostering growth. Quiqup itself has been a beneficiary of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Innovation Fund’s (MBRIF) Guarantee Scheme, which helped the company scale to a point where it can now create value for other businesses.
Fatima Yousif Alnaqbi, a representative of MBRIF and Acting Assistant Under-Secretary at the Ministry of Finance, commented on the importance of such support. “Enabling innovative, high-potential businesses to grow is central to building a stronger and more future-ready economy. When companies are supported at the right stage, they are better positioned to scale, contribute more meaningfully to the market, and create wider value across the business ecosystem.”
What’s Next: From B2C to B2B
Having already received 190 brand submissions, Quiqup aims to feature at least 250 businesses on the “Shop Local” platform in the coming weeks.
Following this launch, the company plans to introduce “Source Local,” a similar initiative focused on the B2B market. This platform will help local suppliers and manufacturers gain visibility and connect with potential business customers, further strengthening the local supply chain.
About Quiqup
Founded in 2019 and headquartered in the UAE, Quiqup is a technology platform focused on e-commerce logistics. The company provides a suite of services for businesses of all sizes, including local and international delivery, fulfillment, and returns management.
About MBRIF
The Mohammed bin Rashid Innovation Fund (MBRIF) is a federal initiative by the UAE’s Ministry of Finance, operated by Emirates Development Bank. It supports innovators through its Guarantee Scheme, providing access to affordable funding, and its Accelerator program, which helps enhance the growth potential of businesses shaping the UAE’s economy.
Source: Zawya
