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In response to social distancing measures and the shutdown of malls during Covid-19, Bahrain has launched a virtual mall to connect existing online eShops with customers.
The mall.bh website provides a national listing and review platform for companies that already have eStores and eMarketplaces or offer services that help businesses build their own eStores.
Zayed bin Rashid Al Zayani, the kingdom’s Minister of Industry, Commerce and Tourism, said: “This will enable companies to continue offering their products to consumers. It has been designed by the Ministry and will provide its services to companies for free.”
Several major brands, including Lulu Hypermarket, Centrepoint and Splash are currently listed on the platform, which also provides consumers with a platform to review and rate services provided by the eStores.
The website does not engage in deployment, delivery or customer service related to these eStores, leaving those to the respective stores.
Stores are distributed into eight main categories – clothes and accessories, department stores, food, jewellery, electronics and electrical appliances, beauty and personal care, flowers and gifts and other. As of Monday night, there are 75 brands registered via the platform.
Consumers are directed to each of the stores’ websites to make their purchases, with a contact number and/or email address provided in case of technical difficulties. They can also register an account to submit reviews on the platform or complaints via the national Tawasul service.
Companies that wish to register can do so for free using their eGovernment eKey as long as they fulfil four requirements.
1. The organisation should be licensed and registered with the Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Tourism.
2. The company website must incorporate an eStore/eMarketplace, not just information about the company.
3. The eStore/eMarketplace must use an online payment method like credit cards, debit cards or PayPal.
4. The service must include delivery to consumers.
