It looks likeChinais not the only country getting Groupon this week as the popular group-buying site announces the official launch of Groupon United Arab Emirates (UAE).
Groupon basically offers discount deals for products and services by partnering up with local businesses. Each deal must meet a minimum quota of sale for the transaction to push through. Not bearing any localized name, Groupon will be operating in the Middle East under the websitehttp://www.groupon.aeand will initially be serving Dubai and Abu Dhabi with live deals and plans to expand into additional cities in future months.
Originallyspottedlast December, Groupon will now join the dozens of group buying sites in the Middle East including popular ones such asGoNabItandCobone. While it’s surprising that the company did not acquire any of the existing sites, like it has withother countries, Groupon UAE believes that it will be leveraging the best practices it has pioneered in more than 40 countries around the globe.
If you’re not from Dubai or Abu Dhabi, you can check out thischartthat shows the availability of group-buying sites in other Middle Eastern countries.
Story byFrancis Tan
Francis Tan is the Asia editor of TNW, who is based in the Philippines. He is particularly interested in Asian Internet startups, social me(show all)Francis Tanis the Asia editor of TNW, who is based in the Philippines. He is particularly interested in Asian Internet startups, social media and e-commerce. Get in touch with him via Twitter@francistanor Emailfrancis@thenextweb.com.
Get the TNW newsletter
Get the most important tech news in your inbox each week.
