Dubai will soon have a purpose-built smart retail hub ‘matajircom’. The work on the project will start next month, with plans to get matajircom fully operational in the second quarter of 2015. The project is part of Economic Zones World’s (EZW) visi on to be the global hub of the upcoming e-economy and Dubai Customs’ focus on becoming the world’s leading facilitator of international trade.
Over the last few years, the number of online retailers in the region has been on an upswing, with the UAE accounting for the biggest share of the region’s e-commerce market followed by Saudi Arabia. Through this inclusive initiative, EZW in collaboration with Dubai Customs intends to put in place an eco-system that will bring all players in the ‘e’ domain to partner and collaborate with each other in a synergetic and rewarding manner, enabling a customer initiate online trade with utmost precision.
“This initiative will bring about paradigm shift in the e-commerce landscape, expanding markets from local to national and national to international,” believes EZW CEO Salma Ali Saif bin Hareb. “The new project will serve as a comprehensive platform providing integrated solutions to customers focused on e-commerce,” adds Ahmed Butti Ahmed, executive chairman of Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation and director general of Dubai Customs.
The key features of EZW and Dubai Customs’ eco-system include e-commerce tailored regulations and one-stop-shop solutions; physical fulfilment facilities and services; world-class financial infrastructure and payment gateway; high speed Internet; storefront developer; e-marketplace platforms; and call centre services. E-commerce tailored regulations and one-stop-shop solutions will offer licensing, leasing and other utilities supported with world-class customs services. The upcoming hub will allow a customer 100% ownership, 100% repatriation of capital and profits in addition to 0% corporate and income tax.