What Zibox does

Zibox is a privately held, Iraq-based mobile super-app that combines marketplace commerce, first-party retail, and consumer services. Founded in 2015 and headquartered in Erbil, the company operates a hyper-local e-commerce platform distributed via iOS and Android, with 2M+ app installs and a 4.9-star rating. The platform aggregates 2M+ products across fashion, electronics, home goods, sports, beauty, and automotive categories, targeting individual consumers in Iraq and the broader Middle East. Logistics is positioned as a core capability, with same-day/next-day delivery (order by 12 PM, receive by 6 PM) and a 98% on-time arrival rate cited.

The technology stack centers on a mobile app with proprietary features including Visual AI Search (computer-vision-based product matching), AR product previews, live delivery tracking, one-tap checkout, and a "Verified by Zibox Systems" purchase authentication layer. Additional engagement mechanics include Hanar Deals, Spin Game, Reels short-form video, and IQD local-currency settlement. The business model is a hybrid of marketplace commissions on third-party seller transactions and first-party sales of proprietary branded goods (e.g., ZEA Wireless Earbuds). Pricing is not publicly tiered, with app-exclusive first-order discounts used as an acquisition lever.

Zibox is expanding its ecosystem beyond B2C retail through three announced modules: Zi Trade (B2B wholesale launching Q3 2026), Zi Jobs (recruitment launching Q4 2026), and Zi Services (on-demand home repairs). Total disclosed funding is $1.85M across rounds in 2015 and 2017, with no recent institutional rounds reported. The company is led by founder/CEO Emad Ballack and operates with a team of 11–50 employees. The go-to-market is direct-to-consumer via app stores and a web storefront (ziboxapp.com, zibox.io), with no enterprise sales motion disclosed.

Name

Zibox

Legal name

Zibox Inc.

Website

https://ziboxapp.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Zibox is an Iraq-based mobile super-app operating a hyper-local e-commerce marketplace serving individual consumers in Iraq and the Middle East. Founded in 2015 in Erbil, the platform lists 2M+ products with same-day delivery, AI visual search, and an expanding ecosystem spanning B2B wholesale, recruitment, and home services.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Irbil

HQ country

Iraq

HQ region

Middle East

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Digital Commerce or Content

Cost components

Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Personnel, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Marketplace Commission: The platform serves as a marketplace connecting global sellers with Iraqi and Middle Eastern consumers. Revenue is generated through transaction fees on product sales facilitated through the Zi Marketplace.
2. First-Party Product Sales: Sale of proprietary Zibox-branded products (e.g., ZEA Wireless Earbuds) through the platform.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Zibox operates a hyper-local mobile e-commerce super-app serving Iraq and the Middle East, aggregating over 2M products across fashion, tech, home, sports, beauty, and automotive categories. The platform functions as a marketplace connecting global sellers with Iraqi consumers, supplemented by first-party branded products such as ZEA Wireless Earbuds. It also offers on-demand home repair services (Zi Services) within its ecosystem, with planned expansion into B2B wholesale (Zi Trade) and recruitment (Zi Jobs).

Product overview

Zibox operates as a unified multi-module e-commerce and services ecosystem rather than a single product. The core platform is ZiBox, a hyper-local e-commerce super-app serving Iraq and the Middle East with 2M+ products. This core is supported by complementary modules: Zi Marketplace (B2C retail), Zi Trade (B2B wholesale launching Q3 2026), Zi Jobs (recruitment launching Q4 2026), and Zi Services (on-demand home repairs). Additional features include IQD currency support, Hanar Deals, Spin Game gamification, and Reels video content. Together, these products form an integrated commerce universe spanning B2C retail, B2B sourcing, services, and employment.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Zi Marketplace: The super-app for fashion, tech, and essentials. 2M+ products available now. B2C Retail.
• Zi Jobs
• Zi Trade
• Zi Services

Products and services

• ZiBox
• Zi Services
• ZEA Wireless Earbuds

Quantifiable outcome

• 98% on-time delivery rate
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability2 records

Feature5 records

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Noon: Major MENA-focused e-commerce platform with multi-category inventory and a hyper-local fulfillment strategy. Directly comparable to Zibox as a regional online marketplace, though Noon operates at much larger scale and broader geographic scope.
• Namshi: MENA-focused fashion and lifestyle e-commerce platform. Comparable to Zibox as a regional multi-category online retailer serving Middle Eastern consumers with similar mobile-app-first shopping UX.
• Wadi.com: MENA-based general-merchandise online marketplace. Comparable to Zibox as a multi-category regional e-commerce player operating with a similar horizontal marketplace model.

Broad incumbents

• Careem: MENA super-app (owned by Uber) offering rides, food delivery, and payments. Comparable to Zibox as a multi-vertical mobile super-app serving Middle Eastern consumers, though Careem's core verticals differ and its scale is substantially larger.
• Amazon Middle East (Souq): Global e-commerce incumbent operating in the Middle East following the Souq acquisition. Comparable to Zibox as a multi-category online retailer in the same regional market, though Amazon operates at vastly larger scale and broader catalog depth.

Regional players

• Talabat: Leading MENA on-demand food and grocery delivery platform (owned by Delivery Hero). Comparable as a regional mobile-first commerce super-app, though Talabat focuses on quick-commerce delivery rather than multi-category marketplace.
• Mumzworld: MENA-focused online retailer specializing in mother, baby, and child products. Comparable to Zibox as a regional e-commerce platform serving Middle Eastern consumers with a localized marketplace model.
• Ounass: Luxury fashion and lifestyle e-commerce platform in the Middle East. Comparable to Zibox as a regional mobile-first multi-category retailer serving Middle Eastern consumers.

Emerging players

• Trendyol: Turkish e-commerce super-app (backed by Alibaba) expanding into MENA markets. Comparable as a mobile-first multi-vertical commerce platform targeting similar emerging-market consumers in the broader region.
• Jumia: Pan-African e-commerce marketplace operating in emerging markets. Comparable to Zibox as a mobile-first regional marketplace model targeting underpenetrated emerging-market consumers.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/ziboxapp
• Facebookfacebook.com/Ziboxinc

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Zibox