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Cartlow Rolls Out Subscription Model For GCC Retail Platform
Parent company Basatne is scrapping per-sale commissions, betting a flat subscription will pull more merchants into the Gulf’s re-commerce market.
Tech and logistics platform Basatne has launched a subscription-based marketplace through its consumer brand Cartlow, dropping the per-transaction commissions that define most regional platforms. It is a direct pitch to sellers pressed by fees that can reach 20% and to a GCC retail sector expected to hit USD 390 billion. The company is positioning the model as a structural reset rather than a pricing tweak.
The offer is straightforward: a monthly subscription instead of variable cuts on each sale. Basatne argues that this helps merchants retain more value, widen product ranges, and price competitively across refurbished, pre-owned, and new goods. For a region where many SMEs still struggle with digital retail onboarding costs, a predictable fee structure may lower the threshold to participate.
Cartlow is built on Basatne’s proprietary technology stack spanning trade-in, diagnostics, repair, refurbishment, and resale. That stack links individual consumers with businesses, wholesalers, and resellers along the full product lifecycle. The company says the system is built to recirculate millions of products annually and prevent more than 300,000 tons of potential e-waste from reaching landfill.
“Our goal is to make sustainability scalable, not just aspirational,” said Mohammad Sleiman, CEO of Basatne MENA. “With this subscription model, we’re removing cost barriers and creating an ecosystem where businesses thrive and products live longer”.
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Basatne’s wider operations span sustainable electronics distribution, a global trading platform, AI-driven analytics and diagnostics, integrated subscription programs, and embedded fintech tools. Cartlow now anchors the consumer side of that network. The group says the consolidation supports its international expansion play, with the Gulf acting as a proving ground for circular retail models.
Re-commerce in the GCC still trails established markets in Europe and Asia, but demand has risen as device prices climb and environmental expectations grow. By eliminating variable fees, Basatne is betting more merchants will list refurbished and pre-loved stock — and that a deeper pool of inventory will make the channel a mainstream retail path rather than a niche alternative.
News
New Disney+ Streaming App Has Officially Launched In The UAE
The app’s recommendations now factor in what’s popular in the UAE, and a dedicated Junior Mode gives kids their own corner of Disney+.
A new Disney+ app has officially launched in the UAE, and subscribers can now keep watching their favorite titles when they travel. Disney+ says access extends across supported markets in Europe, the United States and beyond.
The app is built around a dynamic homepage and simpler navigation, with recommendations drawn from each customer’s viewing habits and what’s popular in the UAE. Content from Hulu and ESPN is now easier to find alongside Disney+’s own library, the company says. Audio and subtitles come in up to 25 languages, and supported devices get high-quality video and sound.
For families, the app includes Junior Mode, a dedicated, simplified version of Disney+ for younger viewers, built around age-appropriate shows and movies. It sits alongside existing controls such as PIN-protected profiles, customizable content ratings and account notifications when a profile is changed.
The catalog still spans Disney, Pixar, Marvel, Star Wars, National Geographic, Hulu and FX. Returning series include Season 8 of “The Kardashians,” Season 23 of “Grey’s Anatomy” and Season 38 of “The Simpsons”. Also on the service are the second season of International Emmy and BAFTA Award-winning series “Rivals,” comedy “Only Murders in the Building,” Walt Disney Animation Studios’ “Zootropolis 2” and 20th Century Studios’ “Send Help”.
Also Read: Best Video Streaming Services In The Middle East
Marvel Television’s “VisionQuest” is on the way, and Disney’s live-action “Moana” is due later this autumn. Beyond Hollywood, the Turkish title “Halef” is coming to the platform alongside a lineup of Korean entertainment: Korean-Japanese romantic comedy “Merry Berry Love” is streaming now, and “The Remarried Empress” arrives November 4.
Existing subscribers will be prompted to download the new app and sign in with their current credentials, with on-screen steps covering account confirmation and profile setup. Subscriptions start at AED 49.99 per month and can be canceled at any time.
For UAE subscribers planning to travel, the update will likely be well received, but Disney has left one question open. It confirms Europe and the United States as supported markets but doesn’t yet say which others fall under and beyond.
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