MUSCAT: HiShopping, Oman’s emerging super app, marked a significant milestone with a major event in Muscat celebrating its rapidly growing user base and outlining its long-term digital vision. The event, held at the Grand Millennium Hotel’s Grand Ballroom, brought together more than 1,000 guests, including senior investors from the UAE, China, Taiwan and Singapore, as well as leading social media influencers and public figures.
Organised by Polaris Investment SPC, the ceremony combined celebration with strategy, unveiling HiShopping’s road map for future growth while reinforcing its commitment to empowering consumers and merchants across the Sultanate and beyond.
The highlight of the evening was the continuation of HiShopping’s generous monthly giveaway campaign. With over 30,000 active users now on the platform and more than 2,000 registered merchants, HiShopping has pledged to give away three brand-new cars every month, alongside a selection of premium electronics and home appliances.
The campaign, branded as “Recharge & Get Now”, offers customers the chance to win items such as an iPhone 16 Plus, Samsung smartphones, smart TVs, refrigerators, washing machines, air fryers and juicers — all by simply recharging through the platform.
In his keynote address, Shaikh Hamad al Suwaidi, Chairman of HiShopping, welcomed guests with a message of gratitude and ambition. “Your presence honours us, and I would like to express our sincere appreciation and gratitude to everyone here,” he said. He also acknowledged the vital support of Oman’s Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion, which he described as a key driver behind the platform’s rapid rise. “Since our launch on January 26, we have witnessed remarkable growth,” he added. “Our ambition is to become the leading gateway for smart digital living in Oman and the region.”
Shaikh Hamad is a well-known Emirati businessman with a storied career that extends far beyond the tech space. He is the founder of Al Ghwaiis Stables for Horses and Camels, with a long-standing presence in regional racing circles. A close associate of the late Shaikh Zayed bin Sultan al Nahyan and Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid al Maktoum, Shaikh Hamad’s name is synonymous with traditional sports, entrepreneurship and innovation.
His ventures include Al Ghwaiis Car Rental, the first mobile restaurant in the UAE (1982), and an instrumental role in the conceptual design of Ski Dubai. Today, he continues to manage a diversified investment portfolio while actively promoting heritage sports.
What distinguishes HiShopping from other platforms is its unique economic model, rooted in the work of Nobel Prize-winning economist Robert Mundell. Inspired by Mundell’s theory of optimal currency areas, the platform has adopted a framework that focuses on equitable value sharing between businesses and consumers. In doing so, HiShopping challenges conventional e-commerce norms, adopting a user-centric approach where a share of profits is reinvested back into the community, rewarding consumers and reinforcing loyalty.
This philosophy is echoed in the platform’s core values, which were prominently displayed at the event. These include promoting transparency, offering high-quality products at lower costs and empowering local communities through digital engagement. HiShopping also emphasises the use of artificial intelligence, innovation and e-commerce technologies to create opportunities that benefit consumers, advertisers and partners alike.
The company’s slogan, “Empowering Communities, Improving Lives”, encapsulates its broader mission — to build a more inclusive, sustainable digital economy across Oman and the wider Gulf.
HiShopping is more than just a digital marketplace; it aims to become a comprehensive super app. From payment solutions to product discovery and community engagement, the platform envisions a unified digital experience that serves both individual consumers and small businesses. This integrated approach is particularly important in Oman, where growing digital connectivity is opening new doors for local entrepreneurs and consumers alike.
The event also served as an opportunity to strengthen ties with the media, as an official invitation was extended to national and regional outlets to attend and cover the occasion. With expectations of future collaborations, the organisers underlined the media’s essential role in sharing success stories and building trust with the public.
As Oman pushes forward with its Vision 2040 goals, which include digital transformation, economic diversification and SMEs empowerment, platforms like HiShopping are gaining momentum as engines of innovation. By combining sound economic theory with real-world incentives and community-based programmes, HiShopping offers a promising model for inclusive growth in the digital age.
As the evening came to a close, attendees took part in prize draws, entertainment segments and networking opportunities, all wrapped in a festive atmosphere. With plans for expansion and product diversification on the horizon, HiShopping is well-positioned to reshape the region’s e-commerce landscape, one recharge at a time.
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