What is the name of your organization?
Muqbis
What is the name of your solution?
Muqbis Handmade for the future
Provide a one-line summary or tagline for your solution.
A digital marketplace revolutionizing handmade commerce by bridging artisans with global buyers through technology, fair trade, and sustainability
In what city, town, or region is your solution team headquartered?
Cairo, Cairo Governorate, Egypt
In what country is your solution team headquartered?
Egypt, Arab Rep.
What type of organization is your solution team?
For-profit, including B-Corp or similar models
Film your elevator pitch.
What specific problem are you solving?
Artisans in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region face systemic barriers that prevent them from accessing sustainable markets and fair wages. Despite the handmade industry’s $700 billion global value and MEA market contributes with 5%, millions of MEA artisans—over 5 million in Egypt alone—struggle with limited market reach, digital illiteracy, and lack of financial inclusion. Many rely on informal markets or intermediaries who take a significant cut of their earnings, leaving them with minimal profits.
In Africa, 80% of artisans operate in the informal economy with little to no access to e-commerce platforms, logistics support, or international buyers. In the Middle East, where cultural craftsmanship is deeply rooted, traditional artisans are rapidly disappearing due to market fragmentation and limited digital adoption. According to the World Bank, over 60% of artisans in MEA live in rural or underserved areas, with restricted access to trade and funding opportunities.
Muqbis is solving this problem by digitizing MEA artisans’ businesses, connecting them to global buyers, and ensuring fair trade. Through an inclusive marketplace, we empower artisans with direct sales channels, financial tools, and digital skills, allowing them to sustainably grow their businesses and preserve their cultural heritage.
What is your solution?
Muqbis is a digital marketplace that empowers artisans in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) by connecting them directly with global buyers. Our platform provides artisans with an e-commerce storefront, digital payment solutions, logistics support, and business growth tools, enabling them to sell their handmade products internationally without intermediaries.
Muqbis uses AI-powered product recommendations, digital upskilling resources, and automated pricing tools to help artisans optimize their sales. Our platform integrates with local and international logistics providers to streamline shipping, making global trade accessible for small-scale artisans. Additionally, we plan soon to offer financial inclusion services such as micro-loans, fair trade certifications, and business training to enhance artisans' sustainability.
Through Muqbis, artisans can easily create online shops, manage orders, and access global markets, transforming their businesses from local to international. Our platform preserves MEA’s rich cultural heritage while ensuring artisans receive fair wages and economic independence.
Please visit: https://muqbis.com/
Who does your solution serve, and in what ways will the solution impact their lives?
Muqbis serves artisans and craftspeople across the Middle East and Africa (MEA), particularly women, rural communities, and underserved creators who lack access to sustainable markets and fair wages. Many of these artisans face economic marginalization, digital illiteracy, and reliance on exploitative middlemen, limiting their earning potential and business growth. In Egypt alone, over 5 million artisans work informally, with minimal access to digital tools, financial services, or international buyers.
Women in MEA, who make up a significant portion of the artisan workforce, often face limited economic opportunities due to traditional societal norms. Additionally, rural artisans struggle with poor infrastructure, restricted market access, and logistical barriers that prevent them from scaling their businesses.
Muqbis directly impacts these communities by providing a tech-enabled marketplace that empowers artisans to sell globally, access fair pricing, receive financial literacy training, and leverage digital tools. By removing middlemen, ensuring direct-to-consumer sales, and offering logistical support, Muqbis enhances artisans’ incomes, promotes economic independence for women, and preserves cultural heritage.
Through Muqbis, artisans can turn their crafts into sustainable businesses, fostering economic resilience and inclusive growth in MEA’s handmade sector.
