What’s it like shopping on Amazon as an Arab?
I’ve been to Dubai many times, but never lived there. What I loved most about living in Dubai was the city itself and the people there, everything else, including the shopping scene, I couldn’t stand it and I think you will probably feel the same way too if you’re moving there or already live there. Why? Here are just 3 reasons why you won’t be able to enjoy shopping in Dubai…
How the site works in Arabic
Amazon has recently expanded to the Arabic market, and thus we have all been able to shop in Arabic! Shopping in Arabic is a breeze, and with the inclusion of specific search terms (e.g. خريطة البيانات), I can find everything I need without any difficulty. I use this feature frequently because it helps me avoid typing out long phrases that might not be recognized by my phone’s keyboard.
It also seems more authentic than using English for Arabic-speaking searches, because I am looking for products written in Arabic script, instead of products translated into Arabic from English.
The only downside to shopping in Arabic is that the product descriptions are often written entirely in English.
Product availability
If you’re looking for a specific product, chances are you’ll find it on Amazon. However, the Arabic language is not always available, which can make finding what you need a little more difficult. Fortunately, if you know your Arabic alphabet and don’t mind using the English keyboard to type, then this shouldn’t be too hard. If not and there’s a particular website or item in which you’re interested, just put تسوق بالعربي after the title of your search and see what comes up!
Payment options
Amazon accepts a wide range of payment methods, from credit cards to debit cards to gift cards. For those who don’t want to use their credit card, you can also purchase a pre-paid Amazon gift card for cash at many stores. The only downside is that these are not available online and require a trip to the store. I have often used this option when traveling internationally because I need some books or music and couldn’t order them online because my debit card wasn’t accepted by their system. I would buy an international prepaid Visa or MasterCard which I could then use for other purchases as well if needed.
The delivery process
Purchasing items through the website is easy and straightforward. The shipment arrives at your doorstep, which you can track with the app or by logging into your account. You also have the option of picking up your order in a nearby pickup location if you don’t want to pay for delivery. There are plenty of perks with this service: Prime members get free same-day delivery from Whole Foods stores and 2-hour deliveries from select retailers. If you’re an Echosign Prime member, then you get 20% off on select products from Prime Wardrobe (excluding groceries).
Returns, shipping and customer service
Even the most basic features of the site are in a different language and that can be frustrating. For example, if you want to contact customer service, you have to select the Contact Us option and then go through a bunch of menus before you can actually speak with someone. And even when you do reach customer service, they may not be able to understand your problem or help at all because they don’t know how things work in your country.
