
Dubizzle
Online classifieds in MENA region.
Date | Investors | Amount | Round |
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- | investor investor investor | €0.0 | round |
investor | €0.0 | round | |
investor | €0.0 | round | |
$180m Valuation: $400m | Acquisition | ||
Total Funding | 000k |
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Dubizzle operates as a prominent online classifieds marketplace, primarily serving the United Arab Emirates and the wider MENA region. The company was established in Dubai in 2005 by American expatriates Sim Whatley and J.C. Butler. Coming from backgrounds in finance and international economics respectively, the founders identified a gap in the market for a centralized online platform to address the common challenges of setting up a life abroad, such as finding accommodation, transportation, and furniture. Initially self-funded with a small amount of savings, the duo employed guerrilla marketing tactics to build a user base, eventually securing angel investment to sustain operations in the early stages.
The platform facilitates peer-to-peer and business-to-consumer transactions across a wide array of categories, including automotive, real estate, electronics, home goods, and job listings. The core of its business model is to provide a user-friendly digital space where individuals and businesses can list items and services. While basic listings are often free to encourage user participation, revenue is primarily generated through a multi-faceted approach. This includes fees for premium listings, which offer enhanced visibility in search results, display advertising for businesses, and specialized packages for high-volume clients like real estate agents and car dealerships. The company also generates income from data and lead sales to businesses.
After demonstrating significant growth, Dubizzle's co-founders sold a majority 51% stake to the global internet group Naspers (now Prosus) in 2013 for $120 million and stepped down from daily operations. Naspers, through its subsidiary OLX Group, later acquired the remaining 49% stake in 2018, valuing the company at approximately $400 million. This acquisition was a key step in Dubizzle's journey, integrating it into a global network of classifieds platforms. Subsequently, the platform became part of the Dubizzle Group following a merger between EMPG (Emerging Markets Property Group) and the OLX Group's operations in several key markets. This strategic consolidation created a powerful entity in the region's digital marketplace. The group has continued to expand its market share through strategic acquisitions of other UAE-based startups.
Keywords: online classifieds, marketplace, UAE, MENA, real estate listings, automotive sales, peer-to-peer, Dubizzle Group, e-commerce, user-generated listings
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Investments by Dubizzle
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