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The company\u2019s founder and CEO, Abdulelah Fadhel, said that the platform aimed to tackle one of the biggest barriers to the sharing economy \u2014 trust. (Supplied)<\/p>\n
\n\tRIYADH: In Saudi Arabia, where digital transformation is reshaping industries from banking to transportation, one entrepreneur believes the next frontier is not what people buy, but what they already own.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n\tFrom wedding dresses and power tools to parking spaces and professional services, Saudi startup Rush Rooms is betting that almost anything can become a source of income if it can be rented safely. The company\u2019s founder and CEO, Abdulelah Fadhel, said that the platform aimed to tackle one of the biggest barriers to the sharing economy \u2014 trust.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n\tBy linking users to Saudi Arabia\u2019s National Unified Access (Nafath) system, Rush Rooms verifies identities before transactions take place, an approach Fadhel believes could encourage more people to participate in peer-to-peer commerce.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n\tThe startup\u2019s ambitions extend beyond creating another online marketplace. Fadhel envisions Rush Rooms becoming part of the infrastructure supporting Saudi Arabia\u2019s growing digital economy, aligning with Vision 2030\u2019s goals of encouraging entrepreneurship, sustainability and more efficient use of resources.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n\t\u201cOur mission has always been to solve one of the biggest challenges in online marketplaces; fraud, scams and the difficulty of verifying the identity of the parties involved,\u201d Fadhel told Arab News.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n\tThe idea emerged from a personal setback that forced him to rethink his career.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n\tWhile studying under a scholarship program that promised employment after graduation, Fadhel said that he lost his place after a dispute with one of the program\u2019s supervisors. Although the experience was painful, he describes it as the turning point that pushed him toward entrepreneurship.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n\t\u201cI realized that my future should not depend on a job, but on what I could build myself,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n\tWith a background in international hospitality management, Fadhel launched his first business while still in university by converting small rooms into hotel-style accommodation. The venture generated his first business income and sparked an interest in identifying underserved markets.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n\tHis next venture focused on hourly rentals of residential units, a concept that he says was among the first of its kind in Saudi Arabia. Over time, he realized the underlying opportunity extended far beyond real estate.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n\t\u201cThat is how Rush Rooms evolved into a comprehensive marketplace where users can rent, lease, buy and sell anything and everything,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n\tThe platform is built around what Fadhel calls the \u201cRental Revolution\u201d \u2014 the belief that any asset or service with a defined beginning and end can be rented.\u00a0<\/p>\n
The company\u2019s founder and CEO, Abdulelah Fadhel, said that the platform aimed to tackle one of the biggest barriers to the sharing economy \u2014 trust. (Supplied)<\/p>\n
\n\tThat philosophy significantly broadens the traditional definition of rentals. In addition to homes and vehicles, the platform accommodates equipment, event tickets, reservations, wedding dresses, parking spaces and professional services. Users can also monetize skills and expertise rather than physical possessions alone.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n\t\u201cI believe people do not only own physical items,\u201d Fadhel said. \u201cThey also possess valuable skills, expertise and services that others are willing to pay for.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n\tThe idea reflects a broader shift toward asset-sharing that has gained momentum globally through platforms that allow consumers to generate income from underused resources. In Saudi Arabia, where digital adoption has accelerated rapidly in recent years, entrepreneurs are increasingly exploring business models based on the sharing economy.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n\tFor Rush Rooms, trust is central to convincing users to embrace the concept.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n\tBeyond identity verification through Nafath, payments are handled using an escrow system that releases funds only after buyers or renters confirm satisfaction with the transaction. Digital contracts and promissory notes are also integrated into the platform to protect both parties.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n\t\u201cOur goal is to provide the highest level of security while maintaining a simple, fast and seamless user experience,\u201d Fadhel said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n\tBuilding that system, however, proved far more challenging than developing the concept itself.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n\tFadhel said that he worked with more than 10 technology companies and developers before finding the right partner, losing valuable time and money along the way.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n\t\u201cI experienced several unprofessional engagements and encountered promises that were never fulfilled,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n\tFunding also remained a constant challenge during the company\u2019s early years. He credits his family\u2019s support and encouragement from close friends with helping to keep the project alive until it found its footing.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n\tEventually, a chance meeting with software entrepreneur George Farid Awad led to a long-term partnership that evolved into a co-founder relationship after years of collaboration.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n\tDespite the technical hurdles involved in integrating payment systems, logistics providers and digital verification services, Fadhel believes perseverance became one of the company\u2019s greatest competitive advantages.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n\t\u201cGreat companies are not built under easy circumstances,\u201d he said. \u201cThey are built through resilience, determination and belief in the vision.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n\tUnlike many startups that prioritize rapid expansion, Rush Rooms has focused heavily on user feedback.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n\tFadhel said that many of the platform\u2019s features were developed after listening directly to customers and observing how they used the service.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n\t\u201cOur users shape the platform, and our job is to turn their needs into practical solutions,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n\tThat feedback also reinforced one of the company\u2019s early assumptions: Saudis were more willing to embrace renting than many expected.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n\tAlthough initial user growth was modest due to limited marketing resources, Fadhel said that adoption increased steadily as more people discovered opportunities to earn income not only from personal belongings but also from their professional expertise and services.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n\tThe business model is relatively straightforward. Rush Rooms earns commissions from completed transactions while gradually introducing premium subscriptions and promoted listings for businesses seeking greater visibility.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n\tLooking ahead, Fadhel has ambitions that extend well beyond Saudi Arabia.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n\tHe hopes that the company will eventually become a billion-dollar Saudi technology business serving international markets and, one day, be listed on the Saudi Stock Exchange.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n\tYet he says that the company\u2019s long-term success will be measured less by its valuation than by its contribution to changing consumer behavior.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n\t\u201cWe are not just building a platform,\u201d he said. \u201cWe are building the future of the rental and commerce economy.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n\tThat vision aligns with broader economic priorities under Vision 2030, which seeks to diversify the Kingdom\u2019s economy by encouraging digital innovation and more sustainable consumption.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n\tBy helping individuals and businesses generate additional income from existing assets while reducing waste through reuse, platforms such as Rush Rooms could contribute to the growth of Saudi Arabia\u2019s circular economy.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n\t\u201cWe want to create economic opportunities for everyone,\u201d Fadhel said. \u201cWhether they are individuals, small businesses or large enterprises, technology should empower people rather than simply digitize processes.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n\tOne of the app\u2019s users, Aseel Raslan, talked about how simple and positive her experience was with the app: \u201cAt first, I listed some products for rent, and they were successfully rented out. What I really liked is that managing everything is completely free \u2014 the platform and app only take a commission when a transaction is made.<\/p>\n
\n\t\u201cThey also provide all the payment methods and a dedicated page to showcase my products. After they introduced the selling feature, I started selling through the platform as well, and it works the same way. My customers are very happy with how easy the experience is, whether they\u2019re renting or buying, and I\u2019m happy to have a fast, user-friendly app that combines both renting and selling in one organized platform,\u201d Raslan said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\n\tFor Saudi Arabia\u2019s growing startup ecosystem, that philosophy reflects a larger transformation taking place across the Kingdom; one where innovation is increasingly driven by solving practical problems, building trust in digital services and finding new ways to unlock value from resources that already exist.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"RIYADH: In Saudi Arabia, where digital transformation is reshaping industries from banking to transportation, one entrepreneur believes the…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":584130,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[72,113,61,60],"class_list":["post-584129","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-economy","tag-business","tag-economy","tag-ie","tag-ireland"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/584129","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=584129"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/584129\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/584130"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=584129"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=584129"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=584129"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}