Amazon Prime launches in the UAE

Subscription service Amazon Prime is now available in the UAE, following the official launch of Amazon.ae in the country last month.

Prime, Amazon’s paid membership programme, offers shopping benefits such as discounts as well as access to entertainment options.

In the UAE, members will receive free delivery on local and international items, access to exclusive Amazon Original series, movies and TV shows with Prime Video, video game benefits with Twitch Prime, and exclusive Prime member deals, a statement said.

It will cost users Dhs16 per month, or Dhs140 for an annual membership.

Until October 31, monthly customers have also been offered an introductory promotional price of Dhs12 per month.

Prime will also be available free of charge for a 30-day trial.

“We are excited to provide UAE customers fast, free delivery on products from Amazon UAE and free international delivery on products from Amazon US,” said Jamil Ghani, vice president, Prime and Marketing International, Amazon.

UAE-based Souq.com relaunched as Amazon.ae in the country on May 1, following Souq’s acquisition by the global e-commerce platform in 2017 for an estimated $650m.

Read: Souq relaunches as Amazon.ae in the UAE

“We are thrilled to bring Prime to the UAE just one month after the launch of Amazon.ae,” said Ronaldo Mouchawar, founder of Souq and vice president of Amazon MENA.

“We are working hard every day to expand our product range, give customers even greater value, and continually improve the shopping experience here in the UAE.”

In the UAE, Prime members will have free next day delivery across the country with no minimum purchase, while a 50 per cent discount on same day delivery will be offered in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Al-Ain and Ajman.

Domestic Prime-eligible products will come from 30 categories, including fashion, electronics, books, toys, consumables, and beauty.

Prime members will also enjoy free delivery in six to nine business days for international orders over Dhs100 on eligible products shipped from Amazon US.

In terms of Amazon Prime Video, members can stream or download Amazon Originals like The Grand Tour, and All or Nothing: Manchester City, and Indian hit shows like Mirzapur and Breathe.

Under Twitch Prime, members will have access to in-game loot for some of the world’s biggest games, free games, a free monthly Twitch channel subscription, an expanded set of chat emotes and colours and an exclusive chat badge.

Members will also have exclusive access to special deals as well as access to shop on Prime Day, Amazon’s global shopping event exclusively for Prime members.

Amazon Prime currently has more than 100 million paid members in 17 countries.