Design Meets Deal: Behind the UI of GC Coupons

When we think of savings, most people imagine numbers, percentages, and the thrill of getting more for less. But behind every successful coupon platform today lies something less obvious yet equally powerful: design. User interface has become the silent force shaping consumer trust, conversion, and loyalty in the digital economy. In the Gulf region, where e-commerce adoption is surging, GC Coupons has proven that the right UI is not just about aesthetics—it is about building an experience where savings feel seamless, intuitive, and reliable.

Founded in 2020 by Yash Bhojwani, GC Coupons has become one of the leading digital coupon platforms across the UAE and KSA, partnering with over 1,200 retailers and serving millions of shoppers. From household names like Noon, Talabat, and Max Fashion to lifestyle and tech services such as SHEIN, Crocs, ACE, Surfshark, and Sharaf DG, the platform’s breadth is impressive. Yet it is the way in which these offers are presented—through a sleek app and web interface—that has set GC Coupons apart from competitors. Bhojwani is quick to emphasise this point: “Coupons are only as good as the experience that delivers them. If a shopper cannot find, apply, and trust the coupon within seconds, the code loses value. For us, the interface was not an afterthought; it was the product.”

That philosophy is evident the moment one opens the app or visits the website. Unlike many coupon aggregators that overwhelm users with clutter, outdated offers, and distracting ads, GC Coupons focuses on clarity. The design strips away unnecessary noise and foregrounds what matters most: the deal itself. Categories are logically structured, navigation is intuitive, and search functions actually deliver relevant results. Bhojwani explains, “We asked ourselves what frustrates people about other coupon platforms. Too many clicks, expired codes, and a design that hides the very thing you came for. Our answer was simple: respect the user’s time and attention.”

Respecting attention meant prioritising speed and flow. GC Coupons invested heavily in making sure its app performed at lightning speed, even on slower connections. The UI uses lightweight graphics and balanced colour palettes to reduce loading times while keeping visuals engaging. The result is an experience where users can go from opening the app to redeeming a discount in under a minute. “We designed for the Gulf shopper who is busy, often on mobile, and not willing to waste time scrolling through irrelevant content,” says Bhojwani. “That’s why today our app is considered the best in the UAE and KSA in terms of UI—because it saves both time and frustration.”

Comparisons with rival platforms reinforce this point. While competitors like Coupon.ae, EverySaving, Almowafir, and AlCoupon certainly list deals, their interfaces often mirror outdated directory-style layouts. Users report frequent issues: expired coupons, hidden redirects, and a lack of responsive design. GC Coupons positions itself differently. Offers are tested automatically in real time, ensuring broken codes are weeded out. Visual cues, such as bold badges for exclusive discounts, highlight deals worth noticing. The flow from discovery to redemption feels more like browsing a curated shopping guide than navigating a cluttered directory. In design terms, this is the difference between function-first and user-first thinking.

The GC Coupons app also embraces personalisation. Rather than forcing every shopper into the same homepage, the UI adapts based on user behaviour. Someone who frequently redeems fashion coupons may see Noon, SHEIN, and Max Fashion codes featured more prominently, while a user who prefers digital services could be nudged toward VPNs, storage, or streaming deals. The platform’s dedicated Surfshark coupons page is an example of how verticals are not just listed but thoughtfully presented, with context that helps users make decisions. Bhojwani elaborates, “We didn’t want our UI to just be functional; we wanted it to feel personal. Saving money should feel like advice from a trusted friend, not a gamble in a crowded marketplace.”

What is striking is how design thinking went into even the smallest details. Fonts were chosen not only for legibility but also for trustworthiness—clean sans-serifs that feel modern yet approachable. Colour schemes were tested across different cultural contexts, ensuring that palettes resonated with users in both the UAE and Saudi Arabia. Button placements were debated, tested, and refined until the checkout journey felt frictionless. This meticulous approach is rare in a sector where platforms often see design as secondary to affiliate relationships. GC Coupons recognised early that the two must be inseparable: strong partnerships bring retailers, but intuitive design keeps users.

The mobile-first evolution has been particularly important. With over 50,000 downloads across the Google Play Store and Apple App Store, the GC Coupons app has become the platform’s beating heart. Features like instant notifications, location-based deals, and one-tap redemption have set new standards in the region. Bhojwani reflects, “The future of couponing is mobile. If you’re not designing for thumb-friendly navigation, instant responsiveness, and clean mobile visuals, you’re already behind. That’s why we designed our app not as a downsized website, but as a unique experience built from the ground up.”

The design philosophy also extends to how GC Coupons frames campaigns. Seasonal collections—Ramadan specials, back-to-school offers, or mega sales like White Friday—are presented through themed visuals that align with cultural touchpoints. This is more than aesthetic dressing; it signals to users that the platform understands local context. It also avoids the generic banner fatigue that plagues many competitors. Each campaign is tailored, contextual, and visually distinctive. “We treat every campaign as a storytelling opportunity,” Bhojwani notes. “Our UI is not just a tool; it’s a stage where brands and savings come together.”

The contrast with other coupon sites is stark. Many competitors rely heavily on pop-ups and aggressive advertising that degrade the user experience. GC Coupons took the opposite route, minimising intrusive ads and instead creating design spaces where offers shine naturally. This choice might mean slower monetisation in the short term, but in the long term, it builds trust. And trust, in the digital coupon space, is the currency that matters most.

Another advantage of GC Coupons’ design is accessibility. The team deliberately designed the interface to be inclusive—clean icons, simple text, and a structure that accommodates both English and Arabic speakers. In a region where bilingual communication is essential, GC Coupons ensured the experience was fluid across languages. The ability to switch seamlessly without compromising design integrity gives it an edge over platforms that treat localisation as an afterthought.

Looking forward, the company plans to expand its design innovations even further. AI-driven personalisation will allow the app to adapt in real time to individual preferences, surfacing hyper-relevant offers at the exact moment of intent. Visual storytelling may expand into more interactive formats, like deal journeys or gamified rewards. Bhojwani envisions design not just as a support function but as the platform’s engine: “Coupons may seem simple, but the future of saving is complex. Our design philosophy is to make that complexity invisible to the user. They should only see clarity, relevance, and value.”

It is this relentless focus on design that explains why GC Coupons has become a market leader in such a short span. By marrying technology and aesthetics, the platform has redefined how Gulf shoppers interact with savings. For those accustomed to clunky coupon sites, the difference feels revolutionary. Bargain hunting no longer feels like work; it feels like a smooth, enjoyable extension of the shopping journey.

For anyone curious about how this design vision translates in practice, the platform’s homepage at GC Coupons demonstrates the balance of function and elegance. It is not simply a list of codes; it is a carefully crafted experience that embodies the principle that good design is good business. In a marketplace crowded with noise, GC Coupons has made design its differentiator. The result is not just a better coupon platform—it is arguably the best in the UAE and KSA.