What Is the Development Cost of an Online Shopping App Like Trendyol
If you’re planning to build an online shopping app like Trendyol, you’re not just building a simple store app.
You’re building a marketplace-grade commerce ecosystem:
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Multi-category catalog
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Promotion engine
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Smooth checkout
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Delivery & returns system
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Scalable backend
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Future multi-seller capability
This guide explains what Trendyol is, how its model works, what you need in the UAE market, realistic MVP costs (AED 60K–80K), profitability outlook, and how Royex can build it properly.
What Is Trendyol?
Trendyol is an international e-commerce platform launched in 2010. It is known for:
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Marketplace-first model
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Campaign-driven growth
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Wide product categories (fashion, beauty, electronics, home, lifestyle)
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Mobile-first shopping experience
It has expanded into GCC markets including the UAE, positioning itself as a large-scale marketplace rather than a single retailer.
How Trendyol Is Different from Other Shopping Apps
Marketplace-First Approach
Instead of being a single-brand store, Trendyol operates as a multi-seller marketplace. This allows:
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Massive variety
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Faster growth
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Commission-based revenue
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Lower inventory risk
You can start single-vendor and scale into marketplace later.
Promotions as a Growth Engine
Trendyol heavily uses:
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Coupons
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Flash sales
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Campaign events
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App-only deals
This creates repeat buying behavior and higher retention.
Regional Brand Partnerships
In GCC markets, Trendyol onboarded well-known brands and local sellers, helping it build trust quickly.
Localization + partnerships = faster growth.
Ecosystem Expansion
Trendyol expanded beyond pure retail into adjacent verticals, giving it a super-app feel and increasing customer lifetime value.
How the Business Process Works
Customer Flow
Browse → Add to cart → Apply coupon → Checkout → Delivery → Rate/Return
Must include:
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Strong search & filters
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Transparent delivery info
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Easy return workflow
Seller Flow (Marketplace Phase)
Register → Upload products → Receive orders → Fulfill → Receive payouts
You can delay this to Phase 2.
Inventory & Catalog Flow
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Categories
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Attributes
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Variants (size, color)
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Stock sync
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Pricing rules
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Promotion logic
This is the technical backbone of the platform.
Logistics Flow
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Shipping integrations
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Tracking
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Reverse pickup
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Refund handling
Admin Operations
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Seller approvals
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Product moderation
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Fraud checks
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Promotions management
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Financial analytics
What You Need to Run This in the UAE
Building the app is only part of the equation.
Business & Operational Requirements
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Product sourcing strategy
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Warehousing or 3PL
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Customer support system
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Content team
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Promotions planning
Platform Requirements (Launch MVP)
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iOS + Android app
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Admin panel
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Payment integration
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Shipping integration
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Returns workflow
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Analytics dashboard
UAE Market Realities
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High competition
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Strong trust expectations
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Arabic + English support
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Fast delivery demand
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Clear return policies
Development Cost in UAE: AED 60,000–80,000
The smart strategy:
Build a focused MVP → Scale later.
What You Can Build Within AED 60K–80K
Customer Mobile App
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Login & profile
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Categories & search
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Filters
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Product pages
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Variants
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Wishlist
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Cart & checkout
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Basic coupons
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Payment gateway
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Order tracking
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Ratings
Admin Panel
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Catalog management
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Pricing & stock control
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Order management
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Basic promotions
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Reports & analytics
Backend Infrastructure
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Secure APIs
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Role-based admin access
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Scalable database design
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Cloud deployment
Cost Breakdown
Product Strategy & UI/UX (AED 10K–15K)
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Wireframes
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Checkout optimization
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Design system
Mobile App Development (AED 25K–35K)
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Cross-platform build
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Notifications
Backend & Admin Panel (AED 20K–25K)
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Catalog engine
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Order engine
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Coupon logic
QA & Deployment (AED 5K–10K)
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Testing
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App store release
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Monitoring
Total: AED 60,000–80,000
A full marketplace ecosystem requires additional phases.
Revenue Model
Product Margin (Single Vendor)
Buy wholesale → Sell retail → Keep margin.
Marketplace Commission
Take 8–20% commission per order.
Sponsored Listings
Featured placements and campaign participation fees.
Logistics & Service Fees
Optional delivery or priority service fees.
BNPL & Fintech Partnerships
Improves AOV and conversion rate.
Example Profit Scenarios (Illustrative)
Scenario A – Single Vendor
AOV: AED 180
Margin: 25%
40 orders/day → ~1,200/month
Gross profit ≈ AED 54,000/month before expenses.
Scenario B – Marketplace
AOV: AED 220
Commission: 12%
80 orders/day → ~2,400/month
Revenue ≈ AED 63,360/month.
Volume + retention determine real profitability.
Technology Stack for Scalability
Mobile
Flutter or React Native
Backend
ASP.NET Core, Node.js, or Java
Database
PostgreSQL or MS SQL
Advanced Scaling Tools
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Redis (caching)
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Elasticsearch (search speed)
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AWS/Azure (cloud scaling)
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CDN for media
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Monitoring & logging
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Role-based security
How to Win in the UAE Market
Smart Differentiation
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Start niche
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Dominate select zones
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Offer exclusives
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Create weekly deal rhythm
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Make returns extremely simple
Retention > heavy discounting.
Is This Profitable for a Startup?
Yes — if you:
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Avoid launching too broad
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Control discounting
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Build strong logistics
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Focus on repeat purchases
Best path:
Niche single-vendor → Optimize → Add sellers → Scale campaigns.
Why Choose Royex?
MVP Strategy Within Budget
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Define Phase 1 vs Phase 2
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Protect your AED 60K–80K budget
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Architect for scaling
Full Commerce Stack Delivery
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Mobile app
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Admin dashboard
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Scalable backend
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Payment & shipping integrations
Marketplace Growth Roadmap
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Seller onboarding
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Commission engine
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Advanced promotions
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Flash sales
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Personalization
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Retention analytics
Why Royex Specifically?
Royex combines:
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UAE market understanding
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Scalable architecture expertise
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Commerce-focused development approach
Building a Trendyol-style app isn’t about copying features — it’s about building a scalable, profitable commerce engine tailored for the UAE market.
Royex has deep experience delivering large-scale, high-performance digital solutions in the UAE and building product-grade platforms (not only project-based apps). That matters because delivery systems succeed when engineering + operations + analytics are designed together.
Royex combines development, operational insight, and scalability planning — helping startups move from MVP to sustainable growth. Established in 2013, Royex Technologies is a leading app development company in Dubai, that provides innovative solutions for small, medium, and large-scale companies.
Conclusion
A Trendyol-like app succeeds because of:
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Variety
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Campaign-driven sales
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Smooth checkout
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Reliable logistics
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Scalable infrastructure
With a smart AED 60K–80K MVP, a niche-first strategy, and a scalable architecture, your e-commerce startup can move from launch to profitability without unnecessary burn.
The key isn’t copying Trendyol.
It’s building a focused, conversion-driven version optimized for your market.