Emaar Malls, the Dubai-based retail company, has joined forces with the regional e-commerce website noon.com in order to launch a virtual store for Dubai Mall. The virtual store will enable customers to shop online for products which would normally be available at the Dubai Mall, accounting for over 1300 stores.
Emaar Malls has stated that, alongside this initiative, retailers will be able to list their products on Namshi.com, another online asset.
To be part of this initiative, Dubai Mall retailers will be able to opt-in to the service via noon.com and Namshi. The platforms will inherently coordinate with the tenants on inventory-related queries.
Additionally, the initiative will allow for a free and cashless delivery service on a daily basis throughout the entirety of the UAE which is in line with the current pandemic’s internationally recognized guidelines, encouraging further social distancing.
An Emaar Malls spokesperson stated, “Unprecedented challenges call for innovative, collaborate and bold measure.”
Adding that, “The COVID-19 situation and its impact on the global economy call for us to rally our strengths and identify new measures that take into consideration the social and economic realities.”
A Dubai Mall spokesperson said, “This will particularly benefit SMEs and start-ups that do not have an active online presence as well as larger retailers who now have an added channel to drive sales.”
“We have been in discussions with large mall operators for the virtual mall initiative, as part of our efforts to offer alternate channels for retailers to tide over the current challenges. We expect to announce further major partnerships with large malls shortly,” said a spokesperson from Noon.com.