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YallaHub Teams Up With Lapochka For Future UAE Expansion
The quick-commerce as a service platform will allow the drink producer to distribute its revolutionary AI-generated lemonade in new UAE markets.
YallaHub, a leading “quick-commerce as a service” (QAAS) platform, has partnered with drinks producer Lapochka to add artificial intelligence to its product development and aid plans for UAE expansion. The partnership will utilize YallaHub’s full suite of services, including fulfillment, logistics, payment gateway integration, customer support, and last-mile delivery.
Lapochka recently hit the headlines after launching a groundbreaking AI-generated lemonade. The company’s beverage makers used a neural network to analyze consumer preferences, sales data, and reviews to craft the perfect soft drink recipe. The resulting concoction sticks to the brand’s commitment to natural ingredients and features an eye-catching “robot apple” design concept.
“We are constantly seeking methods to surprise and delight our customers with unique and innovative products,” explained Lapochka CEO Anton Balyklov. “This AI-created beverage allows us to introduce consumers of all ages to the latest technologies in a fun and delicious way. Partnering with YallaHub empowers us to potentially expand our reach and share this exciting innovation with a wider audience in the MENA region”.
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The partnership between YallaHub and Lapochka aims to push the boundaries of the beverage industry. With a strong focus on natural ingredients and refreshing taste, the new AI-designed beverage should also be a perfect fit for the booming UAE drinks market — projected to hit $23.2 billion in value by 2025.
By combining Lapochka’s new-found expertise in AI-driven product development with YallaHub’s established MENA presence, the collaboration could potentially revolutionize consumer experience across the region. By the end of 2024, Lapochka plans to establish itself in several major UAE marketplaces, hoping to achieve sales of over 100,000 cans per year.
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Influencer Growth Fuels Saudi Creator Economy Surge
The Kingdom’s creator economy grew over 32% in Q1 2025, fueled by TikTok, UGC, and cost-per-action (CPA) influencer models.
Saudi Arabia’s creator economy saw a significant 32.37% growth in the first quarter of 2025, driven by an uptick in influencer marketing, content-driven e-commerce, and the increasing influence of user-generated content (UGC). These insights come from a recent study by Admitad and the Stllr Network.
Much of this momentum is coming from video-based platforms, where brands are leaning on creators who feel more relatable than polished ad campaigns. The trend shows a clear preference for authenticity, as audiences gravitate toward content that feels real and personal.
Mohannad Alzahrani, Co-founder and VP KSA of Stllr Network, highlighted the shift: “The rise of user-generated content (UGC) is changing the way brands engage with consumers. Audiences trust real creators more than traditional advertising, making UGC a key driver of authenticity and sales”.
TikTok remains the dominant platform in this space, reportedly reaching 88% of the Saudi population. It also showed the sharpest rise in influencer-led transactions. Other platforms followed with solid, if less dramatic, growth: X was up 17%, Instagram increased by 12%, and Telegram by 10%.
In terms of content niches, beauty led the pack with a 56% growth rate, followed by lifestyle at 45.8% and fashion at 18.2%. Tech content also showed healthy traction at 10.6%, while entertainment, food, fitness, parenting, and gaming posted smaller — but still positive — gains.
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The report analyzed more than 300,000 influencer-driven purchases. These efforts translated into a 15% year-on-year jump in Gross Merchandise Value (GMV) and a 5% increase in the number of orders in 2024. Influencers themselves are seeing the benefit, with average order values hitting $54 and creator earnings rising by 14%.
A noticeable trend is the move away from fixed-rate deals. More influencers in Saudi Arabia are embracing hybrid compensation models — especially cost-per-action (CPA) setups that tie their earnings directly to performance.
As Anna Gidirim, CEO of Admitad, explains, “The CPA model brings much-needed transparency to influencer marketing. Brands only pay for actual results, and influencers benefit by securing long-term partnerships while offering their audiences exclusive promo codes and special discounts”.
However, the ecosystem still shows a gender imbalance. The data indicates that 63% of creators in Saudi Arabia are men, while women account for just 37%.
Influencer Growth Fuels Saudi Creator Economy Surge
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