Spare

The problem

Buying a car part in the UAE usually means knowing which shop to call. Parts are spread across dealer counters, hundreds of independent shops in industrial areas and used-parts dealers, and much of the trade runs on phone calls and WhatsApp. A buyer without those contacts spends time finding the right part at a fair price, with little to go on when judging a seller.

For vendors the problem runs the other way. Many run solid businesses with deep stock and reach only the customers who already know them.

What was built

Spare brings vendors and buyers onto one platform, organised around new parts, used parts and auctions.

• A customer app to search by make, model and year, or start from a photograph of the part
• A vendor dashboard for listings, bulk upload, part alerts, orders, messages, payouts, coupons, shipping rates, analytics and reviews
• Vendor verification, with a badge for vendors who complete it
• No subscription for buyers, with service charges shown separately at checkout

I founded Spare and lead it. I set the product direction and designed the vendor model, including the plans vendors choose between and how they get paid. I ran vendor outreach and onboarding myself, from building the target list across Abu Dhabi and Dubai to agreeing terms with each shop, and I drafted the groundwork for launch: the privacy policy, terms of use and vendor agreement.

Where it stands

The app is built, including search by photograph, and the vendors Spare set out to work with have committed and been onboarded. Spare is preparing to launch in the UAE.

What comes next

After launch, Spare will add a fourth section for services alongside new parts, used parts and auctions, so a customer who buys a part can also find someone to fit it. Every completed order will also sharpen how accurately Spare matches parts to the vehicles people drive in the region.