Careem

Careem is a Dubai-based super app headquartered in the United Arab Emirates, primarily operating in the mobility, food delivery, grocery delivery, fintech, and logistics sectors. Founded in 2012 by Mudassir Sheikha, Magnus Olsson, and Abdullah Elyas, it began as a ride-hailing service addressing the region's lack of reliable transportation options and has evolved into an 'everything app' simplifying daily life for users across the Middle East, North Africa, and Pakistan (MENAP).

The platform serves over 50 million customers in more than 70-80 cities across 10 countries, including the UAE as its core market, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Jordan, Iraq, Kuwait, Morocco, Qatar, and Bahrain. Careem has created earnings opportunities for over 2.5 million captains, its network of drivers and delivery partners. In 2019, Uber acquired Careem for $3.1 billion USD, marking the largest tech exit in the Middle East, with Uber retaining full ownership of the ridesharing operations. In April 2023, global technology investor e& (formerly Etisalat) acquired a 50.03% stake in the Careem Super App business for approximately $400 million, enabling further scaling of services.

Key offerings include Careem Go for rides, taxis, bikes, car rentals, and school rides, emphasizing safety, reliability, and sustainability—53% of trips in the UAE used hybrid or electric vehicles in 2023. Careem Express provides B2B on-demand delivery solutions with same-day service, real-time tracking, and dedicated fleets, supporting retail, food, and eCommerce businesses in 11 cities without requiring their own logistics infrastructure. Food and grocery delivery expanded significantly: Careem Now launched in 2018 for food and pharmaceuticals, later adding groceries, with Uber Eats transferring operations to Careem in the UAE in 2020. Careem Quik, introduced in 2020, focuses on quick grocery delivery, while Careem Pay, launched in 2022, offers digital wallet services including remittances (UAE-Pakistan and UAE-India corridors), one-click e-commerce checkout, and bill payments, achieving 77% user retention.

In the UAE, Careem's headquarters in Dubai Media City supports a workforce of around 4,970 employees, fostering a purpose-driven culture to inspire talent and entrepreneurs. The company prioritizes corporate solutions for employee transport and has initiatives like extended maternity leave. While not a traditional FMCG retailer, Careem's delivery ecosystem connects manufacturers and suppliers to consumers via efficient last-mile logistics for food, groceries, and essentials, partnering with global brands to enhance accessibility in urban markets.

Careem continues innovating as a daily utility app, with over 12,000 colleagues historically driving expansion, positioning it as a key partner for FMCG supply chains in the UAE and beyond.