TMTPOST— Saudi Arabian e-commerce platform Zode has officially ceased operations as of July 1, with after-sales services processed through July 14, according to people familiar with the matter. The company, which positioned itself as a “key player in Saudi Arabia’s digital economy,” had formed strategic partnerships with major Chinese firms including JD.com and Huawei Cloud, focusing on technology integration and supply chain collaboration. Zode was launched in November 2024 and had conducted several merchant recruitment roadshows across China in the months that followed. The founding team included high-profile figures from Saudi Arabia’s business elite, such as Sami Juffali, a member of the family behind Mercedes-Benz's operations in the Kingdom. The abrupt shutdown highlights the operational challenges and intense competition in the Middle East’s fast-evolving digital retail landscape, even for platforms with deep-pocketed backers and international alliances.