E-commerce giant Criteo is looking to expand its operations in the GCC, a top official has said, indicating that the e-commerce business has grown significantly on the back of smartphones.
Saudi Arabia’s e-commerce market is expected to grow by around 15% in 2018, Criteo managing director for the Middle East and Africa (MEA) Michele Iozzo told Mubasher in an exclusive interview, projecting similar growth rates for 2019.
“We see smartphones becoming the central device of our lives connecting the physical and digital world. Mobile penetration rates in the region are among the highest globally, with both UAE and Saudi Arabia ranking in the top three,” she said.
Based in Paris and listed on Nasdaq Dubai, Criteo was founded at a start-up incubator but has grown to become an e-commerce marketing leader using machine-learning technology, data, and performance at scale, and measurable ROI for its clients. With around 2,700 employees and offering services to over 17,000 clients across the globe, Criteo’s annual sales exceed $550 billion per annum.