Bursting onto the scene just three years ago, Noon.com has already made a considerable impact in the Middle East’s online retail space.
A multi-billion-dollar collaboration between Emaar Malls, Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, and several private investors, Noon.com has quickly grown to rival Souq – arguably the UAE’s greatest e-commerce success story.
Noon gives you the perfect platform to market and sell your wares – from electronics and fashion to games, toys, groceries and more. And getting set up is easy. All you need is a UAE trade license, a noon.com account, and a great product.
If all that sounds appealing, keep reading.
Advantages of becoming a seller on noon.com
Online presence
Gaining a presence online is one of the toughest challenges faced by new businesses. When you sell through noon.com, you remove that headache entirely. You’ll get instant access to a multi-million-dollar e-commerce platform, along with millions of potential customers.
Noon is currently the 15th most visited website in the UAE and one of the 50 most visited across the whole Middle East. That’s the kind of reach most small businesses can only dream of.
Ready-made infrastructure
It’s not just your audience that’s ready-made when you sign up to Noon. You get access to enterprise-level e-commerce tools, fulfilment and importer services, warehousing, and more.
All you need is a laptop, an internet connection, and something to sell.
Low startup costs
When you sell through Noon, startup costs are minimal. Assuming you already have a computer, the only notable costs involved are your e-commerce license, and any stock you wish to hold.
However, this last cost can be avoided. When selling on Noon, you have the option to hold stock in your own warehouse, use Noon’s warehouse and fulfilment services, or use a dropshipping service.
The latter is usually the most affordable, as there is no need to buy stock upfront. The dropshipping company simply picks and fulfils orders as they are made, taking a cut of the sale for their services.
Noon also charges a fee per purchase, but this is also deducted after sale with no upfront charges involved.
How long will it take to open my store on noon.com?
There’s no concrete timeframe for building a Noon store. It largely depends on how tech-savvy you are and how long you wish to spend perfecting your messaging and inventory.
The process is very straightforward, however, and requires minimal computer skills.
Once you are happy with your store, it will need to be validated by Noon. This process usually takes 48 hours, after which your store will be live.
What documents are required to become a seller on noon.com?
To sell on Noon, you’ll need to be registered as a company in either the UAE, Saudi Arabia, or Egypt.
The first step is to create a customer account. Next, you will need to submit copies of the following documents for approval:
- Trading license or commercial registration
- VAT certificate (if registered)
- Passport or residence ID (both sides)
- Residence visa for non-nationals
- Proof of purchase/invoice, a distribution authorization letter, or a manufacturer permit/certificate is required to sell Health & Beauty products
How to get an e-commerce license
If you don’t already have UAE trading license, the good news is, it’s easy to get one – providing you work with a local expert.
Trade License Zone can manage the entire process for you. First, we’ll help you decide on the best setup for your business – free zone or mainland.
In most cases, e-commerce businesses are better suited to free zone setups. As well as benefiting from the UAE’s zero percent tax rate, working in a free zone also affords you full customs tax exemption, no currency restrictions, and the ability to repatriate 100% of your capital and profit. Many free zones also have on-site warehousing should you wish to hold your own stock.
We’ll also help you choose a company name, ensuring it is compliant with all local naming conventions.
Finally, we can make and manage your trade license and visa applications. To obtain your license, you’ll need to provide some basic documentation, including passport copies, along with your completed application form.
When applying for your visa – and those of your dependants such as children or domestic staff – you will need to undergo a medical examination and biometric capturing.
We also offer an all-in-one support service, eborderless.com, designed exclusively for e-commerce businesses.
The eBorderless platform offers easy access to shopfront and creative services, accountancy and tax advice, digital advertising, warehousing and fulfilment, domain services, and licensing.
There’s no time for confusion when starting out, and with eBorderless.com you’ll be able to drive your business with focus and precision from day one. Whether you are just launching, looking to be more efficient operationally, or needing to better maximise returns, eBorderless.com has you covered with partnerships to all the providers you’ll need – all in one place.
Start your Noon e-commerce business with Trade License Zone
Provided you have the right support and are armed with the correct information, starting, or relocating an e-commerce business to Dubai can be both easy and affordable.
However, while the process isn’t necessarily difficult, it does require an expert eye. Any errors in your paperwork could lead it to being delayed or rejected. That’s why it’s often a good idea to work with a company setup specialist to help you establish your business.
When you work with Trade License Zone, all you need to provide is some basic documentation and a little information about the nature of your business. Then, sit back and let the experts take care of the rest – managing your license and visa applications, communicating with all relevant departments and authorities, and reporting back when you’re ready to start trading. It really is that simple.