E-Export 2026: Fulfillment and the Gulf Route for Turkish Brands
Sertaç Erdoğan, E-commerce Logistics Operations Manager · 2026-11-12
E-export reached USD 5.1 billion in 2025, with a target of USD 6 billion for the end of 2026. As the number grows, what sets brands apart is not the product but how fast and at what cost they deliver the order. For Turkish brands expanding to the Gulf, three questions decide the outcome: where will the stock sit, whose name will the order be sold under, and where do returns go?
Shipping directly from Türkiye looks sensible on a first attempt: stock sits in one place and the process is familiar. But as delivery times stretch and return rates rise, the model hits its limit. Gulf customers expect fast delivery, and every parcel leaving Türkiye passes through customs, transfer and last-mile steps, which makes that expectation hard to meet.
1. Move stock closer to the market
Keeping fast-moving products in a Dubai warehouse brings delivery from days down to hours. Slower-moving items can still ship from Türkiye. Running both models together spreads risk and keeps inventory cost under control.
2. Settle the selling model up front
Selling on marketplaces may require a local legal entity; for some brands a seller of record model lightens that burden. Which model fits depends on your product category and target country. Check current regulations and your local advisor before deciding.
3. Treat returns as seriously as orders
In cross-border selling, returns are the cost line most brands overlook. Shipping a product back to Türkiye often eats the sales margin. An operation that accepts returns in-region, runs quality control and puts sellable items back into stock cuts that cost significantly.
Where to start
Run a pilot with one product group, in one country, on one channel. Measure delivery time, return rate and cost per order, then scale. RND's Dubai and Saudi Arabia operation is built for exactly this staged move: we combine our Türkiye warehouse experience with in-region fulfillment.
Sources for the figures: Ministry of Trade data and press coverage. Targets may be updated during the year.