Online retail platform builder Salla in Saudi Arabia purchases Sweply to initiate a digital advertising service
Salla Acquires Digital Advertising Platform Sweply
Salla, a leading ecommerce platform provider based in Makkah, has made a strategic move by acquiring Sweply, a digital advertising platform. This acquisition is set to bolster Salla's position in the region's ecommerce sector and create a sophisticated advertising ecosystem for sellers.
Founded in 2021 by Ebrahim Saeed and Wael Hassan, Sweply offers monthly subscriptions for businesses, ranging from $8 to $160. The integration of Sweply will provide Salla's users with access to AI-powered targeting and advanced analytics.
Sweply has built a significant presence in the region's digital marketing landscape, serving over 35,000 registered advertisers. The platform's acquisition strengthens Salla's service offerings, expanding them to include integrated digital advertising solutions.
The new service, soon to be rebranded as "Salla Ads", is expected to be available on the Salla platform by the second quarter of 2025. This integration will enable merchants to launch and manage advertising campaigns directly from their store dashboards.
Nawaf Hariri, CEO of Salla, commented on the acquisition, stating that it is a testament to their long-term vision of providing innovative and seamless solutions for merchants. The acquisition follows Salla's recent $130 million pre-IPO investment round in March 2024, which was participated in by Investcorp, Sanabil Investment, and STV.
In Saudi Arabia, digital channels are projected to account for 90 percent of total advertising expenditure by 2030. This acquisition is timely, as it positions Salla to capitalize on the growing digital advertising market in the region.
Existing Sweply users will continue to operate without disruption during the transition period. The new service will offer them advanced features and a seamless integration with their existing ecommerce operations on the Salla platform.
While the current status and integration details of Salla Ads post-Sweply acquisition are not publicly documented, it can be inferred that more details might be available in official Salla announcements, press releases, or their corporate communications channels.
In the aftermath of the acquisition, Salla Ads, the integrated digital advertising solution, is slated to revolutionize the business landscape by merging ecommerce, finance, and technology, creating a sophisticated ecosystem for sellers. Strengthened by Sweply's AI-powered targeting and advanced analytics, this service aims to cater to the growing digital advertising market in the region, particularly in Saudi Arabia.
