Dubai-based gifting platform Udora has raised $10 million in a private funding round to scale its operations across the Middle East, with a particular focus on its planned entry into Saudi Arabia later this year.
Quick Facts
- Raised $10 million in a private round.
- Expanding into Saudi Arabia in Q3 2026.
- MENA generates one-third of total company GMV.
- AI support bot resolves 41% of customer queries.
Fueling a Saudi Expansion
A significant portion of the new capital is designated for Udora’s launch into the Saudi market in the third quarter of 2026. The company views the Kingdom as a primary growth driver, citing its rapidly expanding e-commerce sector and large, digitally-savvy youth population.
“Saudi Arabia is a key market for expansion, driven by the rapid growth of its e-commerce sector, which is expected to reach $15.88 billion by 2026,” said Slava Bogdan, Founder and CEO of Udora.
Bogdan added that the company’s strategy involves deep localization, including building partnerships with trusted local sellers and tailoring the user experience to align with local cultural preferences, payment methods, and delivery expectations.
Strengthening its SME-Powered Model
Since its founding in 2014, Udora has built its platform around empowering small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) by connecting them directly with customers. This model allows local florists, confectioners, and artisan sellers to fulfill orders without needing to invest in their own digital infrastructure.
The success of this approach is evident in the UAE, where its seller network grew by 66.5% in 2025 and all orders were fulfilled by local SMEs.
“MENA is a key growth engine, contributing around one-third of our total GMV,” Bogdan noted. In 2025, the platform recorded $3.32 million in GMV in the UAE alone, capturing a 6% share of the country’s online gifting market.
The new funding will be used to expand the platform’s product catalogue and enhance its technology to further support its network of local sellers.
Investing in AI-Driven Tools
Udora is also channeling investment into its technology stack, with a strong focus on AI-powered tools to improve operational efficiency and the customer experience.
Its customer support bot already handles 41% of all support requests, which has reduced response times by 10.5% while maintaining a 92.4% customer satisfaction rate.
The company plans to develop more AI tools for personalization and to help local sellers improve product visibility by connecting them with relevant customers based on performance metrics. With these enhancements, Udora projects 100% growth across its active markets in 2026.
About Udora
Founded in 2014 by Slava Bogdan, Udora is a global gifting marketplace that connects customers with local florists, confectioners, and artisan sellers. The platform operates in over 50 markets and 1,500 cities, providing a unified technology system that manages orders, marketing, and customer access for its network of SME partners.
Source: Wamda
