DOHA: An auction website launched by a group of Qatari youth over 15 years ago is making waves, with over 600,000 subscribers.
‘Mzad Qatar’ (Auction Qatar) is so popular that inspired by it, people in other GCC countries have launched similar sites with its help.
“We have similar sites in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, the UAE and Bahrain and Egypt. Those running them are doing so with our help,” Fahad Al Nuaimi, from Auction Qatar, told Al Sharq.
The idea of the site is unique yet simple. Anyone wanting to sell or promote an item or a service, be it a property, car, watch or a special mobile phone or car number, can insert an advertisement. The advertisement is free and just about anything not forbidden by law can be put for sale. One needs to use one’s mobile phone to forward the advertisement.
So one must abide by rules as one can be caught since website managers coordinate with the Ministry of Interior in carrying out its operations, Al Sharq said. Jobs and food are some of the other items frequently advertised on the site, Al Nuaimi said.
It uses different languages because a large numbers of subscribers are from different nationalities.
“We launched the website in 1997 and the idea was to train Qatari youth in online trading, and the venture has become such a great success,” he said.
“We thought that this was the best way to teach Qatari youth the nuances of online trading,” he said. Today, large numbers of transactions take place through the site.
Al Nuaimi said his group was now toying with newer ideas and soon some other website would be launched. He, however, gave no details.
When one posts an advertisement on the website for sale of an item or service, it is sold to the highest bidder, he said.
The Peninsula
