Al-Souq · السوق — Trusted marketplace for the Arab world

What's inside

Everything you need to buy & sell locally

An app built around trust, Arabic-first design, and the everyday needs of buyers and sellers in Saudi Arabia and the Arab diaspora.

150+ categories, one tap

Real estate, electronics, fashion, jobs, services, and more — all discoverable from one grid.

Buyer protection

Every listing shows a verified seller badge, an approximate location (~3 km radius) and a clear "Cash on Delivery" indicator.

In-app chat with quick replies

Tap to ask 'Is this still available?' or 'Do you accept Cash on Delivery?' — no copy-pasting, no off-platform messaging.

Rate sellers after a deal

A 5-star + comment dialog helps the next buyer. Ratings feed a public profile stat that builds reputation over time.

Approximate locations, full privacy

We show a 3 km radius instead of exact addresses. Both parties agree on a meetup only after the chat starts.

Post an ad in 3 steps

Photos → Details → Location. Cover photo is required; the app downsamples to 720p before upload so listings stay fast.

Filtered search (city, radius, category)

Find what's near you within 0–200 km, or browse all 150+ categories from the home grid.

Push notifications (FCM)

Price drops, new messages, and ad-performance milestones (100+ views) — straight to your phone, no email.

GDPR-aware from day one

Export my data (JSON), delete account (60-day grace), full Imprint, Terms and Privacy in-app and on this site.

How it works

From "Hello" to "Sold" in three steps

1

Create an account

Email + password, or continue with Google via your Android account picker. Then set a display name and city.

2

List an item in 60 seconds

Cover photo + 4 details + city. We downsample to 720p automatically so you don't burn your data plan.

3

Chat, meet, pay cash

Buyers message you in-app. Arrange a public meetup. Inspect the item, then pay cash on the spot.

Trust & safety

How we keep every deal safe

Al-Souq connects buyers and sellers — we don't hold money, we don't take a cut, and we don't mediate. Instead, we put four trust features in your hands:

01

Verified sellers

Badge on every verified profile.

02

Cash on Delivery

Inspect first, pay after.

03

5-star ratings

Public profile + comment history.

04

Report & block

In chat or on any listing, two taps.

Download

Get Al-Souq on your Android

The app is currently Android-only. Tap the badge below to download the latest APK directly. (We're working on an iOS release.)

Get it on Google Play Or download APK (direct)

Requires Android 8.0+ · ~25 MB · no account required to browse

FAQ

Common questions

How do I post an ad?›

Tap the 'List item' button on the bottom bar, then follow the three steps: Photos → Details → Location. A cover photo is required.

How do I contact a seller?›

Open any listing and tap "Message seller". You'll get a private chat with quick-reply chips.

How does Cash on Delivery work?›

Agree on a price via chat, arrange a public meetup, inspect the item, then pay cash in person.

How do I delete my ad?›

Open your ad under "My ads". You'll see Edit, Mark as reserved, and Delete actions on the listing.

How does location detection work?›

Tap the 📍 icon to auto-detect via GPS, or just type your city name (we support Arabic + English across Europe).

Is the app free?›

Yes, completely free to install, browse, list and chat. Featured listings (a paid promotion) are an optional upgrade for sellers.

How do I export or delete my data?›

Settings → Privacy: 'Export my data' generates a JSON with your profile + listings + ratings + favorites + chat. 'Delete account' locks instantly and permanently wipes your data 60 days later (GDPR-compliant).

Legal

Imprint (Impressum)

1. Provider

Omar Al Hamoud, Ütschenkamp 10, 38226 Salzgitter, Germany. Phone: +49 176 4296 1406 — Email: alsouqteam@gmail.com.

2. Responsible for content (§ 18 (2) MStV)

Omar Al Hamoud (address as above).

3. Legal form

Private individual. No entry in the commercial register (Handelsregister) and no VAT-ID (USt-IdNr.). No business registration (Gewerbe) within the meaning of § 14 GewO has been filed. Platform-host location: Germany.

4. Platform role (DSA § 10 — hosting provider)

Al-Souq operates exclusively as a technical hosting and intermediary platform (hosting provider within the meaning of § 10 DSA) between private and commercial users and is NOT a contractual party to agreements concluded between users.

5. Online dispute resolution (EU ODR Regulation 524/2013)

The European Commission provides an online dispute resolution platform at https://ec.europa.eu/consumers/odr/ for consumers. Al-Souq is neither obliged nor willing to participate in dispute resolution procedures before a consumer arbitration board.

Legal

Terms & conditions

1. Scope

These Terms apply to all users of the Al-Souq app. By using the app you accept these Terms together with the Privacy Policy.

2. Platform role (intermediary, § 5a DDG / § 10 DSA)

Al-Souq is purely a technical hosting and intermediary platform. Al-Souq is NOT a contractual party to agreements between users, and provides NO guarantee as to listing accuracy, contract performance, or product quality.

3. Operator status

Private individual (no business registration under § 14 GewO, no VAT-ID). Platform-hosting location: Germany.

4. Seller status (commercial vs. private, Omnibus 2019/2161 + DSA Art. 22)

When posting a listing, sellers MUST indicate whether they act as a private individual or as a commercial trader (Unternehmer, § 14 BGB). Commercial sellers MUST also provide a business name, address, VAT-ID (if any), and supervisory authority. B2C transactions carry the statutory 14-day right of withdrawal per §§ 312 ff. BGB; private C2C in-person transactions are exempt per § 312g (2) BGB.

5. Content and prohibitions (§ 5 UWG; § 3 ProdSG)

Every listing must be accurate and not misleading. Prohibited: counterfeits, stolen goods, unsafe products, dangerous substances, regulated items, or anything that violates German law. Al-Souq reserves the right to remove any listing without prior notice.

6. Reporting mechanism (DSA Art. 14)

Unlawful content can be reported via the “Report” button on every listing and inside chat. Reports are reviewed timely.

7. Transactions

Every transaction takes place exclusively in person between users. Al-Souq is not involved in payment. Cash on transfer at a meeting point is contractual.

8. Pricing transparency (PAngV)

For commercial sellers, the displayed price is the final price including VAT. No shipping cost applies (no online shipping is offered by the platform).

9. Right of withdrawal (Widerrufsbelehrung — §§ 312 ff. BGB)

For B2C transactions between a commercial seller and a consumer, the statutory 14-day withdrawal right per §§ 312 ff. BGB applies from receipt. The full withdrawal-policy text becomes available when posting a commercial listing. Private C2C in-person transactions are exempt per § 312g (2) BGB.

10. Ranking transparency (DSA Art. 27)

Main parameters of the search-result ordering (in descending weight): (a) listing freshness, (b) geographic proximity (~3 km radius), (c) optional paid “Featured” promotions. Default ordering is free; the only paid ranking manipulation is the Featured listing promotion.

11. Online dispute resolution (ODR Regulation 524/2013)

The European Commission provides an online dispute resolution platform at https://ec.europa.eu/consumers/odr/ for consumers. Al-Souq is neither obliged nor willing to participate in dispute resolution procedures.

12. Account suspension

Al-Souq reserves the right to suspend any account violating these Terms without prior notice. Refunds of any paid fees are excluded.

13. Governing law

German law applies, excluding the UN Sales Convention (CISG).

Legal

Privacy policy (GDPR)

1. Controller (Art. 4 (7) GDPR)

Omar Al Hamoud, Ütschenkamp 10, 38226 Salzgitter, Germany · alsouqteam@gmail.com · +49 176 4296 1406.

2. Data collected

(a) Account data: name, email, password hash. (b) Profile data: phone, city, avatar URL. (c) Content data: listing text/images, chat messages, ratings. (d) Location: city + approximate postal-code area only — NO GPS coordinates, NO movement profile. (e) Device IDs: FCM token for push (after consent), Advertising ID (AAID) for ads (after TCF-v2.2 consent).

3. Legal bases (Art. 6 (1) GDPR)

(b) Contract performance: listings, chat, ratings. (f) Legitimate interest: security, spam/abuse prevention. (a) Consent: push notifications, personalised advertising, location detection.

4. Cookies & tracking (TTDSG § 25 + GDPR)

This website uses NO non-essential cookies or tracking pixels. The only browser storage is a single language preference (alsouq.lang) in localStorage — purely functional per TTDSG § 25 Abs. 2 Nr. 2. Inside the app, Google UMP / TCF v2.2 consent management applies. NO advertising IDs without your explicit consent; until consent, only non-personalised ads are shown.

5. Processors and third-country transfers (Art. 28 + 44 GDPR)

Supabase Inc. (DB / Auth / Storage — EU Frankfurt). Google LLC / Firebase Cloud Messaging (push — USA, EU-US Data Privacy Framework + SCC). Google LLC / AdMob (ads — USA, EU-US DPF + SCC). Google LLC / Google Sign-In via Credential Manager (USA, EU-US DPF + SCC). A Data Processing Agreement (AVV) per Art. 28 GDPR is in place with every processor. The EU-US Data Privacy Framework (adequacy decision of 10 July 2023) and, in its absence, the EU Standard Contractual Clauses (Commission Decision 2021/914) form the transfer basis for recipients in the United States.

6. Retention (Art. 5 (1) (e) GDPR)

Profile — 24 months of inactivity; listings — until manual deletion or 24 months of inactivity; chat messages — 12 months; FCM token — until logout/revocation. Accounting-relevant data — 10 years per § 147 AO; not currently applicable (private operator).

7. Your rights (Art. 15–22 GDPR)

Art. 15 (access) · Art. 16 (rectification) · Art. 17 (erasure) · Art. 18 (restriction) · Art. 20 (portability) · Art. 21 (objection) · Art. 7 (3) (withdrawal of consent at any time, effective for the future). Right to complain (Art. 77) to the supervisory authority for our address: Landesbeauftragte für den Datenschutz Niedersachsen, Prinzenstraße 5, 30159 Hannover. List of all German authorities: https://www.bfdi.bund.de.

8. Online dispute resolution (ODR Regulation 524/2013)

EU platform at https://ec.europa.eu/consumers/odr/. Al-Souq is neither obliged nor willing to participate in arbitration procedures.

9. Session storage (inside the app)

EncryptedSharedPreferences with Android Keystore (hardware-backed) and AES-256-GCM. No tracking cookies until consent.

10. Minors (§ 8 GDPR)

Al-Souq is for adults aged 18+ — confirmed at registration.

Source of truth mirrors app/src/main/res/values{,-de,-ar}/strings.xml → R.string.legal_privacy_body · Effective 2026-07-15.

Account

How to delete your Al-Souq account

Al-Souq (operated by Omar Al Hamoud) lets you delete your account and erase your data at any time, for free. You can do it directly in the app, or by email if you no longer have access. After your request, your account is locked immediately and your data is permanently erased after a 60-day grace period (GDPR Art. 17 compliant).

Two ways to request deletion

01

In the app (recommended)

Open Al-Souq, then go to:

1. Account → Settings → Privacy & Data
2. Tap 'Delete account'
3. Type DELETE to confirm, then submit

Takes about 30 seconds. Your account locks immediately.

02

By email (if you lost access)

Email us at:

alsouqteam@gmail.com

Use the email address registered to your account. We action deletion within 30 days per GDPR Art. 12 (3).

No app required. Verification may take 1–2 days.

What happens after you confirm

Your account is locked immediately. New chat threads are blocked. Existing threads stay open for 60 days so buyers can coordinate meetups. Your listings are hidden from search results immediately. You stay signed out until 60 days pass, after which all data is permanently deleted. If you sign in again within 60 days, you can cancel the deletion.

What we delete

Within 60 days of your request we permanently erase: profile data (name, email, phone, city, avatar), every listing you posted, all chat messages you sent or received, every rating you gave or received, your favorites list, and your FCM push token.

What we keep (and why)

Nothing personal. Supabase (our EU-Frankfurt database host) holds deleted-user rows only as long as technically required to complete the hard-delete query, then they are gone. We do NOT retain backups, logs, or marketing profiles of deleted accounts. If you want a copy of your data before deletion, use Settings → Privacy & Data → Export my data (JSON).

This page is also reachable from Settings → Privacy & Data → Delete account inside the app. It is the destination for Google Play Console's 'Delete account URL' field.

Al-Souq · السوق

A trusted peer-to-peer marketplace for the Arab world. Made by Omar Al Hamoud, Germany.

Publisher (Impressum): Omar Al Hamoud · Ütschenkamp 10, DE

Contact

Email — alsouqteam@gmail.com
Phone — +49 176 4296 1406
Address — Ütschenkamp 10, DE

GDPR Right to export · right to be forgotten · 60-day lock period