A marketplace app like Haraj connects buyers and sellers through listings, chat and trust tools. This guide covers the features, the process and the cost factors.
When we think about Dubai or Abu Dhabi, skyscrapers, ultra-modern infra, and luxury vehicles come into view, and it is true.
UAE holds some of the world’s most famous cities, where you can find anything from glittery gold to anything. It is one of the top economies on this planet and holds a booming eCommerce market.
Even with multiple opportunities, it takes too much effort to start and maintain an ecommerce business. If you are also looking to start your ecommerce business in UAE, then you must have an idea and know what it takes to develop it.
If you are looking for an e-commerce business idea in the UAE, you can refer to multiple e-commerce marketplaces. One of the best references is- Haraj Marketplace. Developing an online marketplace app like Haraj is beneficial.
Here, we have created this article to make your work easy. It will help you with all the essential information you need.
Let’s start exploring this blog together!
An Overview of UAE’s Ecommerce Market
UAE’s ecommerce market is leading with top-7 segments which are-
In addition to these stats, some reasons have made UAE’s ecommerce market grow, and these are:
- 99% Internet-savvy population
- Tech Savvy business owners
- Government Initiatives & Support
- Robust Delivery Network
- Rising Demand for ecommerce marketplaces like Carrefour, Haraj, Amazon.ae, Noon, and others.
- Unlimited growth opportunities
Now, here I am going to reveal a secret!
Whatever top UAE e-commerce segments you have read about earlier, the online marketplace app – Haraj deals in all categories, including some additional categories.
The wide range of categories made Haraj Marketplace grow exponentially. So, if you are looking to invest in an online marketplace like Haraj, it will be one of the best decisions of your life.
Know it first before you do it.
About Haraj – A Popular Online Marketplace in Middle East
Haraj is one of the popular online marketplaces in the Middle East. It is recognized as the 8th most popular Saudi buying and selling platform and the 4th most popular mobile app.
It functions like Craigslist, where sellers can post classified ads, and buyers can respond to them.
Haraj is an Arabic term that means “Marketplace or Bazar.” It deals in multiple categories like automobiles, clothes, furniture, and others. A user can also buy a pet for home via the Haraj app or website.
Its work is simple, and anyone can use it, from sellers to buyers. On its app, users can create their accounts, search for products, compare product prices, post ads, buyers and sellers can communicate with each other, and more.
In simple terms, online marketplace apps like Haraj are contributing significantly to the growth of UAE and Saudi Arabia’s e-commerce market landscape.
Source: Arka Softwares guidance for maintenance after launch.
How Much Does It Cost to Develop an Online Marketplace App Like Haraj?
Developing an ecommerce app like Haraj is a worthy investment, and it can bring value to your business. But do you have an idea how much it takes to develop?
So, ecommerce app development costs vary depending on multiple factors, and based on these factors, the price can be estimated.
Let’s read what Factors Affecting Development Costs:
#1. Platform
Two major platforms are available to launch your next ecommerce platform like Haraj, i.e., Android and iOS.
You can choose any of them for your app, but the condition is that app development cost differs according to the platform. In simple terms, Android app development cost and iOS development cost are different.
Another scenario is that if you develop an ecommerce app for a single platform, the cost will remain less.
However, if you want to target both platforms, the price will be double. However, you can save a good amount and develop an ecommerce app like Haraj cost-effectively by leveraging cross-platform app development.
For a single app for single platform an approximate cost is like:
Type of App Ecommerce App Development Cost (Basic)
| Type of App | Ecommerce App Development Cost (Basic) |
| Android App iOS App Both Platforms (iOS and Android) Cross-platform App | $9,000-$12,000 $9,000-$12,000 $15,000-$24,000 $9,000-$15,000 |
#2. Complexity and customization
Complexity and customization are the most cost-affecting factors in e-commerce app development like Haraj.
It works like if you use pre-built templates, then you can have a clear idea of how much it costs, but with complexity and customization, the cost to develop an ecommerce website like Haraj will be more.
Including components like complex animations, interactive elements, and advanced UI features increases the cost.
An ideal cost to develop an app like Haraj based on complexity could be like:
- Simple ecommerce app cost: $9,000-$12,000
- Mid-complex app: $15,000-$24,000
- Advanced app: $24,000 or more
#3. Features and functionalities
The features and functionalities of an app are for user satisfaction, and for an ecommerce app, it is crucial.
If your question is how features and functionalities influence the app development cost, then the answer is simple – the more features and functionalities you include, the higher the development cost.
Another aspect is that including more advanced features will require more resources and time, increasing the price.
FYI, here is the list of features you need to implement in your next ecommerce app like Haraj in UAE.
| User App | Vendor App | Admin Panel |
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#4. Integration of third-party APIs
Third-party integrations extend the functionalities and improve the performance of an app but come with a specific cost that is added later to the overall app development cost.
Here, you need to pay an API fee or the cost for an extra development activity to synchronize third-party APIs with an app.
While developing an online ecommerce market app like Haraj, you’ll also require some APIs, for example – Payments and in-app navigation. So, whatever API you integrate, the app development cost will be affected.
#5. Development team location
The ecommerce app development cost also depends on the location of the developers. Let’s simplify you can hire ecommerce app developers in-shore or outsource the project.
Initially, hiring in-shore developers sounds economical, but things depend on experience.
On the other hand, you can also hire offshore e-commerce developers at an optimized cost, and another advantage is that you will have access to a vast talent pool.
For example, you can hire offshore app developers from India at $20/hr onwards.
#6. App’s Security
An ecommerce app transacts a good amount of data in a day, and it contains data like customers’ credentials, employees’ credentials, vendor data, payment data, and others. Here, you can’t ignore the app’s security in any way.
The better idea is to take care of it while developing. Conversely, it influences the cost of e-commerce app development.
The app security cost comprises the cost required for implementing hardware, software, secure network, firewalls, VPNs, and others.
If we go with an average cost to develop a secure ecommerce app, it follows the medium to advanced bands, $15,000 to $24,000 or more.
#7. Mobile App Design
End users interact with the interface, not the programming languages or tech stack you used to develop the app. They need only a simple but attractive interface to find a desired product, purchase it, and pay for it.
The cost required for creating a graphical success story in the form of UI/UX is part of the total development cost and grows with the number of screens and custom elements.
Based on all the mentioned cost-influencing factors, developing an online marketplace app like Haraj varies from $9,000 for a basic marketplace to $24,000 or more for an advanced one.
It is an approximate estimation. If you need an exact cost estimation, consulting an eCommerce mobile app development company in Dubai would be better.
How Arka Softwares can make It easy to develop an app like Haraj for you?
There are multiple eCommerce app development companies in the UAE, but we can only commit to ourselves.
With us, you can find experienced resources, cost-effectiveness, on-time project delivery, and the things you need to create an eCommerce success story for your business in the form of an app like Haraj.
The Final Thoughts
UAE’s eCommerce market landscape is exploding, and many opportunities are still untouched. Now is the perfect time to launch an online marketplace.
The motive for creating this blog is to share valuable information about how much it is required to develop an e-commerce app like Haraj.
After reading this blog, you will now have an idea about it. It can work as a firsthand costing guide, but things depend on project requirements.
So, for an exact cost estimation for your dream eCommerce app, share your requirements with us, and we’ll ensure the best answer for it.
Arka Softwares is available round the clock to answer all your queries, and we would be happy to connect with you.
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