Khamsat
Khamsat is a privately held Arabic-language digital services marketplace operating across the MENA region since 2010, connecting freelance service providers with buyers across 350+ categories on a transaction-fee commission model under parent company Hsoub.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2010
- HeadquartersArab, Philippines
- Headcount251–500
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingDigital Commerce or Content
What Khamsat does
Khamsat (خمسات) is a privately held Arabic-language digital services marketplace operating across the Middle East and North Africa, connecting freelance service providers with buyers seeking professional digital work. Founded in 2010 and operating as a project under Saudi-based Hsoub Company (حسوب), the platform lists services across more than 350 categories spanning programming and development, design, AI and machine learning, digital marketing, video and animation, audio, writing and translation, data, engineering and architecture, remote training, and lifestyle services. The platform runs on a tiered seller-levelling system (Levels 1-3 with maximum service prices of $50, $100, and $200 respectively), an entry-level price point of $5, integrated buyer-seller messaging, ratings and reviews, and a buyer-protection guarantee with 24/7 customer support.
The core technology is a web-based two-sided marketplace with no disclosed public API, SDK, or mobile app, accessible globally at khamsat.com with Arabic interface and regional payment methods. Distribution is entirely self-serve and product-led: buyers browse categories, review seller profiles and ratings, place orders, and communicate with sellers entirely within the platform. Demand generation relies on organic SEO, content marketing through blog.khamsat.com, an affiliate program paying $2 per referred buyer, and organic social media presence.
Khamsat monetizes via a marketplace commission on each transaction between buyers and sellers, retaining a fee before remitting earnings to freelancers. The customer base is a long-tail mix of entrepreneurs and SMBs needing affordable digital services and individual consumers with one-off digital tasks, supplied by a long tail of Arab-world freelancers. Headcount stands at 251-500 employees, and no disclosed funding rounds, revenue figures, or investor information are present in the source material.
Khamsat firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Khamsat
- Legal name
- Khamsat (under Hsoub Company)
- Website
- https://khamsat.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2010
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 251–500 employees
- Short description
- Khamsat is a privately held Arabic-language digital services marketplace operating across the MENA region since 2010, connecting freelance service providers with buyers across 350+ categories on a transaction-fee commission model under parent company Hsoub.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Khamsat industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Digital Services Marketplace
- NAICS
- Computing Infrastructure Providers, Data Processing, Web Hosting, and Related Services (518)
- SIC
- Retail-Catalog & Mail-Order Houses (5961)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Mass-Market Multi-category (1P/3P) Marketplaces (CRAFAAAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Marketplace & Platform Payments (Split Payments, Sub-merchants) (FSAMACAG), Payouts, Disbursements & Marketplace Split Payments (CRAFALAI)
Keywords
Where Khamsat is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Arab
- HQ country
- Philippines
- HQ region
- Asia
Markets served
Khamsat business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Digital Commerce or Content
- Cost components
- Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Marketplace Commission / Transaction Fee: Khamsat earns a commission on each transaction completed between buyers and sellers on the platform. The platform acts as an intermediary, collecting payment from buyers and remitting earnings to sellers after deducting its fee.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Services starting from $5 |
| Transaction based/ take rate | Pay-as-you-go | Seller level-based pricing tiers |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels1 record
Marketing channels4 records
Khamsat product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Khamsat (خمسات) operates an online marketplace that connects Arabic-speaking freelance service providers with buyers needing affordable digital services. It lists more than 350 categories of micro-services (programming, design, AI/ML, marketing, video, audio, writing, engineering, data, and lifestyle) with prices starting at $5 and seller-level price caps of $50, $100, and $200 for Levels 1, 2, and 3 respectively. The platform handles discovery, ordering, communication, payment, buyer protection, and 24/7 support, charging a commission on each completed transaction.
Product overview
Khamsat is the largest Arab digital services marketplace, operating as a single unified platform that connects freelance service providers with buyers seeking digital services. The platform offers over 350 service categories organized into major verticals including Programming & Development (website development, WordPress, e-commerce stores, mobile apps, desktop applications, chatbots, AI services), Design (branding, logos, social media, presentations, 3D), AI & Machine Learning (automation, AI agents, machine learning, deep learning), Video & Animation, Marketing, Business services, Audio, Writing & Translation, Data, Engineering & Architecture, and Remote Training. The ecosystem includes a companion blog for educational content and an affiliate marketing program. The platform does not operate a modular platform-plus-modules architecture but rather serves as a direct marketplace with seller profiles, service listings, and buyer-seller communication tools.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Khamsat Marketplace Self-serve online marketplace connecting freelance service providers with buyers across the Arab world; offers 350+ service categories spanning programming, design, AI/ML, marketing, video, audio, writing, engineering, data, and lifestyle services, with integrated ordering, messaging, ratings, and buyer protection.
- Khamsat Affiliate Program Affiliate marketing program that pays partners $2 per new user who registers and purchases a service through their referral link; promotes the platform via partner websites, social media, and reviews.
- Khamsat Help Center (Powered by Zaetoon) Knowledge base and support portal for buyers and sellers, with articles covering service ratings, account creation, service tips, and profit withdrawal.
- Khamsat Blog Content hub covering freelancing, entrepreneurship, digital marketing, and platform updates that drives top-of-funnel awareness through organic search.
Companies that use Khamsat
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Khamsat technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
AI capability9 records
Khamsat partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators2 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Khamsat competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Upwork: Global freelance marketplace connecting businesses with freelancers across programming, design, writing, marketing, and more. Comparable in two-sided marketplace mechanics, but Upwork focuses on hourly/project-based engagements rather than fixed-price gigs.
- PeoplePerHour: UK-based freelance marketplace with hourlies (fixed-price service listings) concept, very close in mechanic to Khamsat's services. Comparable in offering micro-services across design, writing, programming, and marketing at accessible price points.
- Mostaql: Arabic-language freelance services marketplace focused on the Arab world, operating under a similar gig/project model. Directly competes with Khamsat in MENA for the same Arabic-speaking buyer and freelancer personas.
- Freelancer.com: Global freelance marketplace with bidding/contest model across a broad category set. Comparable because it serves the same SMB and individual buyer persona for digital services, though less focused on Arabic-speaking markets.
- Fiverr: Global freelance services marketplace operating on virtually the same model (starting-from-$5 services, seller levels, gig-based listings). Khamsat is effectively the Arabic-language, MENA-focused counterpart to Fiverr, making it the most directly comparable peer.
- Guru.com: Global freelance marketplace with a quote-based and fixed-price service listings model. Comparable in offering diverse digital service categories (programming, design, writing) to SMB and individual buyers.
- Toptal: Vetted freelance marketplace for elite software developers, designers, and finance experts. Comparable as a freelance services marketplace model but skews toward premium/enterprise rather than accessible SMB pricing.
- 99designs: Design-focused freelance marketplace using contest and project models. Comparable because design is one of Khamsat's largest categories, and 99designs represents the specialized-marketplace alternative for the same buyer need.
Others
- Hsoub (parent): Parent company of Khamsat and operator of an Arab internet community and business content platform. Comparable as the strategic operating parent that shares the Arabic-speaking digital content audience and provides operating leverage to Khamsat.
Regional players
- Useme: Polish freelance services marketplace with similar gig-listing mechanics. Comparable as a regionally-focused freelance marketplace model that could parallel Khamsat's regional concentration but operates in a different geography.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Khamsat social profiles
Digital presenceKhamsat financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Khamsat leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Khamsat funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Khamsat M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Khamsat
What does Khamsat do?
Khamsat (خمسات) operates an online marketplace that connects Arabic-speaking freelance service providers with buyers needing affordable digital services. It lists more than 350 categories of micro-services (programming, design, AI/ML, marketing, video, audio, writing, engineering, data, and lifestyle) with prices starting at $5 and seller-level price caps of $50, $100, and $200 for Levels 1, 2, and 3 respectively. The platform handles discovery, ordering, communication, payment, buyer protection, and 24/7 support, charging a commission on each completed transaction.
Is Khamsat a public or private company?
Khamsat is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Khamsat founded?
Khamsat was founded in 2010. It employs 251 to 500 people.
Where is Khamsat based?
Khamsat is headquartered in Arab, Philippines, in the Asia region.
How does Khamsat make money?
One revenue line is on record: marketplace Commission / Transaction Fee.
Who are Khamsat's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Upwork, PeoplePerHour, Mostaql, Freelancer.com, Fiverr, Guru.com, Toptal and 99designs. Hsoub (parent) is listed as an others. Useme is listed as a regional player.
Does Khamsat have an API?
No public API is recorded for Khamsat.
What industry is Khamsat in?
Khamsat's product category is Digital Services Marketplace. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRAFAAAA, Mass-Market Multi-category (1P/3P) Marketplaces, with a secondary code of FSAMACAG, Marketplace & Platform Payments (Split Payments, Sub-merchants). Its NAICS code is 518 and its SIC code is 5961.