Company:Desertcart
| Type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | E-commerce |
| Founded | 2014 |
| Founder | Rahul Swaminathan |
| Headquarters | Dubai, United Arab Emirates |
Area served | Worldwide (100+ countries) |
Key people | Rahul Swaminathan (Founder & CEO) |
| Products | Online marketplace (healthcare, beauty, electronics, fashion, toys, home & kitchen) |
| Services | Cross-border shopping, customs clearance, international delivery |
| Website | desertcart |
Desertcart (founded in 2014) is an e-commerce marketplace headquartered in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The platform enables customers in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region to purchase products from international retailers.
As of June 2025, Desertcart lists over 100 million products and operates in more than 100 countries. In April 2025, Similarweb ranked desertcart.ae among the leading e-commerce websites in the United Arab Emirates.[1]
History
Desertcart was established in Dubai, UAE in 2014 by Rahul Swaminathan. Initially, the company focused on sourcing products from the United States, including electronics, health supplements, toys, and fashion. In its first two years, the company expanded regionally through partnerships with logistics providers.[2]
During the COVID-19 pandemic (2020–2021), Desertcart’s order volumes more than tripled due to increased demand for international products during lockdowns. By 2024, its websites were attracting millions of monthly visitors across domains including desertcart.ae[3] (United Arab Emirates), desertcart.com.sa (Saudi Arabia), desertcart.in (India), and desertcart.co.uk (United Kingdom).[4]
In 2025, the company began sourcing products from South Korea and Japan.[5]
Business model
Desertcart uses a hybrid model combining drop-shipping and warehousing. Many products are sourced from third-party retailers after orders are placed, while some high-demand items are pre-purchased and stored in warehouses to reduce delivery times.
The company partners with suppliers and logistics providers to manage customs clearance and delivery. In some markets, duties and taxes are collected at checkout, providing customers with end-to-end pricing.[6]
Operations
Desertcart maintains offices in the United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, and India.[7]
Its catalogue covers categories including health care, beauty, electronics, home and kitchen, toys, and fashion. Standard shipping times range from one to four weeks, with expedited options available.[8][9]
Products and services
- Catalogue: More than 100 million products from retailers such as Amazon, Walmart, and speciality merchants.
- Customs and duties: Estimated duties and taxes are included at checkout in some countries.
- Customer service: Desertcart offers return options and multilingual support. In 2025, it reported a Trustpilot score of 4.2 (based on 800+ reviews) and a Google Reviews score of 4.4 (based on 1,000+ ratings).
- Regional websites: Localized platforms include desertcart.ae, desertcart.sa, desertcart.in, desertcart.co.uk, and desertcart.us.
References
- ↑ Writer, Staff (2020-10-08). "UAE e-commerce retailer sees 'crazy' boost from lockdowns, curfews - Arabian Business: Latest News on the Middle East, Real Estate, Finance, and More" (in en-US). https://www.arabianbusiness.com/industries/retail/452758-uae-e-commerce-retailer-sees-crazy-boost-from-lockdowns-curfews.
- ↑ "What Souq-Amazon and Uber-Careem deals mean for Middle East’s online platforms" (in en). https://www.arabnews.com/node/1494136/amp.
- ↑ "Saying YES to ethical fashion" (in en). https://www.khaleejtimes.com/uae/saying-yes-to-ethical-fashion.
- ↑ MakersPR (2025-07-23). "Desertcart Expands Sourcing from Korea and Japan, Adding Over 10 Million New Products for GCC Shoppers" (in en-US). https://mid-east.info/desertcart-expands-sourcing-from-korea-and-japan-adding-over-10-million-new-products-for-gcc-shoppers/.
- ↑ Hub, Abu Dhabi SME. "Desertcart Expands Sourcing from Korea and Japan, Adding Over 10 Million New Products for GCC Shoppers" (in en). https://www.adsmehub.ae/en/explore/post-details/desertcart-expands-sourcing-from-korea-and-japan-adding-over-10-million-new-products-for-gcc-shoppers.
- ↑ Hub, Abu Dhabi SME. "Desertcart Delivers 1 Million Items in 2025, Marks 70% Year-on-Year Growth" (in en). https://www.adsmehub.ae/en/explore/post-details/desertcart-delivers-1-million-items-in-2025.
- ↑ "India Covid crisis: Now, expats can send loved ones oxygen concentrators as gifts" (in en). https://www.khaleejtimes.com/lifestyle/health/india-covid-crisis-now-expats-can-send-loved-ones-oxygen-concentrators-as-gifts.
- ↑ "Where to buy vegan make up in Dubai in 2021". https://www.timeoutdubai.com/vegan-in-dubai/vegandubai-features/406726-where-to-buy-vegan-make-up-in-dubai.
- ↑ Embleton, By Fiona (2022-07-10). "The best beauty products from around the world" (in en). https://gulfnews.com/friday/beauty/the-best-beauty-products-from-around-the-world-1.1558429.
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