- Maya is our guide character, not a real person. The guides she presents are researched and written by the MiddleEastEcom team.
- Her tips appear in speech bubbles and give you the practical take: what to do first and what to watch for.
- New to the Gulf? Start with the Middle East selling guide, then pick a country and run your numbers with our free tools.
Hi, I'm Maya. You'll see me all over MiddleEastEcom, usually pointing at the bit of a page that matters most.
I'm the site's guide character, and I present the guides, tools and tips that the MiddleEastEcom team researches and writes. My job is simple: make selling in Saudi Arabia, the UAE and the rest of the Gulf feel exciting and doable, one clear step at a time.
The Gulf rewards sellers who show up early and get the basics right. I'm here so the basics never feel like a wall.
Who is Maya?
Maya is an illustrated character, not a real person, and she gives our guides one warm, consistent voice in every language we publish.
Here's what she's like:
- An enthusiastic insider. She genuinely loves the Gulf market and wants you to succeed in it.
- Sharp and practical. She tells you what she'd do, not just what's possible.
- Honest about trade-offs. If an option costs more or takes longer, she says so.
- Respectful of local culture. She explains how Gulf shoppers buy, without stereotypes.
She has a light sense of humour, too, but she never hypes a product or pushes you into a sale.
Behind Maya is a real team. We check official sources first, such as government portals and the marketplaces' own seller pages, then add what sellers and agencies report from day-to-day work. Our editorial policy explains how we research, review and update every page.
What Maya helps you with
Maya walks you through the whole journey of selling in the six GCC markets:
- Choosing a market, marketplace or platform.
- Getting paid, shipping orders and handling customs.
- Running your numbers before you ship a single box.
- Finding providers who can do the heavy lifting.
Whatever stage you're at, she starts with the big picture and saves the niche details for later, so you're never buried in fine print on your first visit.
How to read Maya's tips
When you see Maya in a speech bubble, that's her practical take on the topic. The facts in the main text come from our research. The tips add the "so what should I do?" part: the first step, the common mistake or the shortcut that saves you a week.
When a tip shares an opinion, it's clearly marked as hers, so you can always tell advice apart from the facts around it.
Where to start
Not sure where to begin? These three pages are the best first stops for most new sellers:
The big picture: why the Gulf, what sells and how to launch.
Pick Saudi Arabia, the UAE or another GCC market and see how it works.
Check fees, landed costs and VAT before you commit.
Want to know more about the team behind Maya? Read about MiddleEastEcom.
Frequently asked questions
No. Maya is an illustrated guide character. She gives our guides one friendly, consistent voice. The research, writing and fact-checking are done by the MiddleEastEcom team, following our editorial policy.
This guide is for general information only and is not legal, tax or financial advice. Rules and fees change — always confirm with the official source or a licensed advisor.
Maya is MiddleEastEcom's lead guide and editor. She researches GCC marketplaces, payments and regulations and turns them into practical playbooks for sellers.
Meet Maya