Every week, ILQ features a different startup in our ‘Startup of the Week' segment. Qatar has some of the most creative, unique, and impactful startups in the region, and we cover them all across a variety of industries in Doha—from fashion and beauty to food and dining, health, education, technology, and more!
This week, we are featuring a new and trendy e-commerce platform in Qatar called Lzhiba! Customers in the country can sell or shop for the following products on the Lzhiba Mobile app or Website: Fashion & Accessories, Watches & Jewellery, Home & Kitchen, Electronics, Health, Sports, & Fitness, Toys, Entertainment & Camping, and even food items. Also featured in the marketplace are Vehicles, Real Estate, Special Numbers, and even Travel & Tourism packages!
Lzhiba is free to use but you need to sign up to complete an order or to post ads on the platform. Just click on login and fill out the details. After entering the OTP sent to your registered mobile number, you are now an active member and you’ll be able to access all the value-added features and benefit from a personalized experience.
You can browse from 14 categories (with 55 subcategories) to choose from. You can also click on the ‘heart’ icon to add an item as a favorite. You can pay for selected items from their partners using your credit cards issued in Qatar.
Lzhiba is a Qatari Arabic word that means fast (like a bullet). As a purely Qatari company, Lzhiba’s founder wanted to use a name that highlights their Qatari origin while also conveying how fast and efficient they are.
When asked about the motivation behind the start of Lzhiba, the founder shared that the idea began a few years ago when they “identified a requirement for a platform that is both fast, efficient, convenient and easy to use, instilled with Qatari culture and created specifically for the people of Qatar.”
From that idea, the website was then launched on 18 December 2020, Qatar National Day. More recently, the mobile apps were launched in February 2021. Lzhiba is available both on Google Play Store and Apple App Store.
“There are several reasons why Lzhiba is unique. Firstly we are a proudly 100% Qatari platform, every aspect of the business is based within Qatar and is not outsourced.
We are also certified with the Theqa Trustmark and are ISO 9001:2015 certified. Lzhiba also has a payment gateway and our partners’ products can be purchased directly online.
Lzhiba users can easily compare new items with used and purchase the new items directly online from our partners.
Lzhiba is bilingual and is available in both Arabic and English, while any user posting an ad is able to post in either one language or both. An ad placed in one language will appear in both the Arabic and English versions in the originally posted language. The fact that the entire operation is located within Qatar means that all technical aspects including ad approval are accomplished much faster.”
According to Lzhiba’s management, so far they’ve had very positive feedback from users. “Being a digital company means that there is always a constant improvement process and we are grateful so far for all the users who have provided their feedback which has enabled Lzhiba to improve on a daily basis. Although we have 14 categories of items (and 55 subcategories) we have designed the platform to be as easy to use as possible, while at the same time keeping it simple, efficient, and elegant. The fact that we have launched in time to satisfy the requirements of the people of Qatar to conduct more business online has been particularly good.”
Lzhiba also values their customers’ feedback and that is why they have a dedicated WhatsApp number (+974 5566 6901) so that they can send their reviews and suggestions. They also added that “if you have a very good idea that will be implemented by Lzhiba, you will be rewarded!”
Lzhiba didn’t seek help from any startup incubation company in Qatar. “It’s a labor of love by a dedicated group of industry professionals with visionary leadership from a prominent Qatari who has overseen and managed every step of the process. His commitment and involvement have ensured that Lzhiba remains an app designed with the user in mind.”
When asked about the company’s challenges and achievements in its early stages, Lzhiba’s management shared that:
“Obviously the whole world is undergoing a massive challenge right now, and setting up a project of this magnitude within this climate has not been easy. Keeping the project 100% Qatari also carries certain challenges, however, we were happy to overcome those as it was an important part of our identity. Integrating a payment gateway, obtaining Theqa certification as well as ISO certification (perhaps the first E-commerce entity in Qatar to do so) have been proud achievements for us. Our proudest moment was when we were able to launch on the 18th of December, Qatar’s National Day.”
As for young entrepreneurs who are interested in establishing startups of their own, this is their advice:
“Be patient, do your research, and above all ensure that you always keep the user in mind. Involve a dedicated group of professionals and allow them the freedom to be creative and innovative while at the same time having a strong, decisive leader.”
With Lzhiba anything is possible. Lzhiba is constantly evolving but they always aim to keep the user at the forefront of the platforms.
“We were fortunate to collaborate with some awesome individuals and entities in our journey so far and cannot wait for the next steps. We would like to especially thank Mr. Ghazi Hussain who lent his voice for an animation explaining the meaning of Lzhiba and for Khalid Jassim and Haneen Alsaify who explained the app and its workings. Most importantly we want to hear back from the users, you are the pulse of Lzhiba, this is an app by the people for the people, so please Find It, Love It, Buy It!”
Cover image credit: Lzhiba
Have you checked out Lzhiba yet? If not, what are you waiting for? Don't forget to share this article with your friends if you found it useful!
Follow us on our social media channels:
@ILQlive
@ILQlive
@ILoveQtr
ILoveQatar
You have successfully registered your account!
Please confirm your e-mail address by clicking on the URL sent to you.The e-mail usually arrives in 5-10 minutes.
How ajeeb was that!? Thanks for contributing to our community! Your post will appear after we take a quick look!
