AlgoDriven: Dominating the GCC Automotive Market as the Region’s First AI Appraisal Platform
Updated 3/8/2026 9:00:00 AM
Arab Finance: The automotive landscape in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) is undergoing a massive digital transformation, driven by a surge in demand for affordable mobility and the rapid adoption of AI-driven valuation tools. According to an IMARC Group report on used cars, the Middle East used car market reached a valuation of $51.1 billion in 2025 and is projected to skyrocket to over $110 billion by 2034. Data from the Automotive Market Information Council (AMIC) reveals a significant surge in Egypt’s auto sector, with sales jumping 54.7% year-over-year in November 2025. During this period, the market moved approximately 16,800 units, a substantial increase from the 10,800 vehicles recorded during the same month of the previous year.
We sat down with Glenn Harwood, CEO and Co-founder of AlgoDriven, to discuss the future of automotive retail and the company's role at the forefront of the regional shift toward data-driven appraisal. As a Dubai-based tech leader, AlgoDriven has transformed car valuation into a precise science, leveraging proprietary data and cutting-edge AI to help dealers value over $25 billion worth of vehicles annually across 10 countries. In this interview, Harwood shares insights into how the company is navigating the unique complexities of the Egyptian market and its vision for further expansion.
1-Can you describe AlgoDriven's establishment and growth in Egypt since opening an office there, and how it fits into your overall MENA strategy?
Egypt is an important part of AlgoDriven’s strategy. We have our core engineering office in Cairo. This office supports our engineering tasks globally – for our customers across the MENA region as well as in Australia and New Zealand.
2-What services distinguish AlgoDriven from its competitors in the region?
We were the first company in the region to offer car dealers digital appraisal and used car evaluation tools, specifically built for the MENA market. We have been able to leverage our proprietary data sets, first-class integrations, as well as local knowledge of the MENA markets, to build a product that resonates with car dealers in the region.
3-How many car dealerships in MENA currently use AlgoDriven's platform?
We have over 1,000 dealerships that use our product across the markets we operate in. Roughly, 20-30% of those are in the MENA region. We count MENA dealers, representing every major automotive brand, as clients.
4-With AlgoDriven valuing over $25 billion in used cars annually across 10 countries, what percentage of that volume comes from MENA?
The split is roughly the same as the dealership split – 20-30%. There is, of course, nuance – in some MENA markets, the car values are higher than in other markets around the world, but that is somewhat offset by the fact that fewer people trade in their old car in the region versus other markets.
5-Egypt's used car market is booming amid economic pressures. Do you have any plans to expand further here?
Egypt is our engineering hub and has been core to our product development strategy. Egypt is a very interesting market, and we have watched it evolve and change over the last few years since we have had a presence there. We are always looking at new markets for expansion, and we are certainly considering how we could drive value to Egyptian car dealers in the future.
6-Can you walk us through the recent acquisition, how it will affect the company’s strategy, and expansion plans?
We were particularly attracted to partnering with Emergence due to our shared vision and strategy for the future. Emergence will continue to invest in the company and execute on our joint strategy. In the short to mid-term, we are focused on continuing to build out our platform, particularly with some of our cutting-edge new AI features, as well as expanding geographically into both North and South America.
7-Compared to other MENA countries like the UAE, what differences have you observed in dealer adoption of AI tools in Egypt, and why?
Egypt presents its own unique challenges, like any market, and certainly differs from the UAE. I think the two biggest factors are that used cars tend to be much older and often cheaper in Egypt. Secondly, the market relies heavily on Arabic rather than English. Both these factors can create both technical and commercial challenges in the adoption of new technologies for Egyptian dealers.
8-How has AlgoDriven expanded in MENA beyond Egypt and the UAE, and what metrics show your #1 position?
Our software is used by dealers across all six GCC countries, as well as some other countries in the wider MENA region. Our software is primarily used by the official new car dealers/importers, and we are lucky to count the majority of those in the GCC region as our clients, as well as many of the vehicle manufacturers’ regional offices as well.
9-What role has the UAE played in fuelling your rapid growth, and how do you plan to leverage local partnerships post-Emergence acquisition to further strengthen your position?
Our company is based in Dubai, and the UAE has certainly been a key element of our growth. The UAE is a unique hub for both talent and capital, as well as being very startup-friendly and a great base for business travel.
10-What advice would you give to other tech startups aiming to scale AI solutions across MENA automotive markets?
The MENA region represents a great opportunity to scale startups. My advice would be to listen to your customers, be fanatical about your product, and have a strong bias towards action – there is no time to start like today.
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