Further consolidating its presence in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the Maktoob Group, which owns the world’s largest online Arab community, Maktoob.com, has announced the acquisition of two of the region’s most popular Arabic websites al-mobile.com (www.al-mobile.com) and majdah.com (www.majdah.com).
This latest addition to the Group’s portfolio comes after a series of acquisitions Maktoob has accomplished during the past few months aimed at providing the Arab online community with innovative services and rich content whereby users will be able to actively engage in different social and professional communities, and gain more exposure and the ability to share information, interests, and thoughts. The move promises to further strengthen Maktoob’s position as the leading comprehensive provider of Arabic electronic community building tools in the region.
Majdah.com, a Saudi-based website has proved to be a very popular forum for general discussions offering a platform for varied topics such as social matters, women-related issues and political affairs among others. Since it was launched in 2004, Majdah.com has attracted various users from across the Arab world and in particular from KSA.
Al-mobile.com, a website specializing in mobile content, was launched in 2005 and has gained overwhelming popularity especially among the younger generations, ever since its inception. Visitors can access information, discuss mobile-related issues and avail of a number of services including the download of videos, ringtones and games.
…More
With a base of 1.2 million unique Saudi visitors a month to the Maktoob network, the Saudi market has proved to be one of the most important markets for the Group in the region. Maktoob acquired Saudi-based alfrasha.com (www.alfrasha.com), a leading women’s website and Sport4ever.com (www.sport4ever.com), a website catering to sports enthusiasts, in the year 2006.
The year 2007 will see the Group investing in a big way in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia while it boosts its team there and enriches its database aiming at continually providing up-to-date and appealing content to its Saudi users. Maktoob will be focusing on becoming a platform where users can generate their own content, share information, and actively be part of the communities they like to be in.
“The addition of Majdah and Al-mobile.com to our portfolio will strengthen our position in KSA by allowing users to access new areas of interest besides those covered by our already existing websites”, said Bassam Khaiwi, Business Development Manager at Maktoob KSA. “We are intensely aware of the growing potential of the Saudi market and the increased investments we have planned to undertake are an endeavour to continually cater to the needs of our users based there.”
About Maktoob Group:
Maktoob Group comprises a network of leading online media companies and websites. In addition to the Arab world’s leading portal, www.maktoob.com, the Maktoob Group network includes Souq.com (www.souq.com) auctions and marketplace, Araby.com (www.Araby.com) the first Arabic search engine, and cashU (www.cashu.com) the electronic payment solution, in addition to several other leading sites and services in the region. In 2005, Abraaj Capital, a leading regional private equity firm, acquired a stake in Maktoob.
For more information about the Group, please visit www.maktoobgroup.com
