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OSKELLY Aims To Shake Up The MENA Luxury Fashion Market
The Eastern European platform will use investments of over $1 million to revolutionize the Middle East’s $89 billion fashion industry.
OSKELLY, the luxury fashion resale platform from Eastern Europe, has set its sights on the United Arab Emirates and is poised to reshape the nation’s fashion landscape. Armed with an investment fund exceeding $1 million, the company plans to digitize the fashion resale sector, advocate for sustainable consumption in the Middle East, and rejuvenate the region’s $89 billion fashion resale industry.
OSKELLY will begin its expansion by introducing a fashion wardrobe ecosystem aided by digital and AI solutions catering to Emirati users. The OSKELLY app allows for both buying and selling of pre-owned luxury items, with social tools enabling users to bid on items and showcase their collections.
Founded in 2017 by the sibling duo of Albert Oskanov and Zaira Keligova, OSKELLY boasts a European user base exceeding 500,000 and an extensive portfolio spanning over 3,000 luxury brands.
To combat counterfeit items, OSKELLY has devised a comprehensive offline authentication process, employing an in-house team of experts to scrutinize the quality, authenticity, and condition of luxury goods both during the uploading phase and before dispatch. Once certified, items undergo pre-sale preparation, including steaming and minimal restoration, before being sent to buyers in branded packaging.
Despite phenomenal growth, OSKELLY’s mission is about much more than commercial success. Albert Oskanov, the CEO and co-founder, emphasizes: “It’s about our mission to create a community-driven fashion ecosystem in the Middle East. We’re here to rewrite the luxury fashion resale story, and we’re driven by a genuine desire to make a difference at every level — from our wardrobes to the world in which we live”.
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The Middle East’s fashion industry market, valued at $89 billion, stands as fertile ground for OSKELLY’s expansion. The second-hand luxury bag market in Dubai alone is estimated to be worth $68 million, with the UAE’s total market revenue now around $3.5 billion.
News
Checkout.com Set To Launch Card Issuing In The UAE
The payment service provider’s expansion is a first-of-its-kind investment and could reshape digital transactions across the region.
Checkout.com is laying the groundwork to become the first global payments platform to introduce card issuing in the United Arab Emirates — a move that could reshape how businesses in the region manage financial transactions.
The company plans to roll out its domestic card issuance offering in the UAE by 2026, subject to regulatory approval. The launch would give businesses the tools to issue both physical and virtual branded cards. This, in turn, opens up new ways to reward customers, streamline expense processes, and handle B2B payouts efficiently.
Checkout.com’s CEO and Founder, Guillaume Pousaz, revealed the plans during Thrive Abu Dhabi, the firm’s debut conference in the Emirates. Joined on stage by Remo Giovanni Abbondandolo, General Manager for MENA, Pousaz presented to an audience of over 150 partners and merchants at Saadiyat Island. Also in attendance was H.E. Omar Sultan Al Olama, the UAE’s Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy, and Remote Work Applications.
Abbondandolo highlighted the strategic importance of the announcement: “As a global business, we focus on bringing products to markets that our customers want and need. Today’s announcement is proof of our commitment to the MENA region and its rising influence in the digital economy. The appetite for innovation here is real, and we’re proud to be building the infrastructure that powers it”.
One early adopter of Checkout.com’s UAE acquiring services is Headout, a travel experiences marketplace, which recently named the payment provider as its main partner in Europe. The company has already begun card issuing there and is keen to expand that offering into MENA once approval is granted.
The expansion of services in the UAE and beyond builds on Checkout.com’s track record in the region. It was the first global payments firm to secure a Retail Payment Services license from the UAE’s Central Bank and was instrumental in rolling out Mada and Apple Pay in both the UAE and Saudi Arabia.
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The firm has also been rolling out new products: One of the latest is Flow Remember Me, currently in beta testing. It allows shoppers to store their card information once and access it across Checkout.com’s entire network, potentially cutting checkout times by up to 70%.
Earlier this year, Checkout.com also introduced Visa Direct’s Push-to-Card solution in the UAE, enabling both domestic and international payouts. Its collaboration with Mastercard has grown as well, making it easier for businesses to send funds directly to third-party cards securely and quickly.
With regional tech ambitions on the rise — spurred by initiatives like Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 and the UAE’s 2031 Agenda — Checkout.com sees its role as one of a key enabler. “Our mission is to help ambitious businesses navigate the complexity of payments, so they can move faster, go further, and make the most of every opportunity,” said Abbondandolo. “In MENA, performance is personal. It’s local. It’s built on trust. And when payments perform, businesses thrive”.
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