Dubai’s Careem acquires Indian shuttle bus app

Dubai’s Careem has acquired Indian shuttle bus service app Commut, according to reports.

Bloomberg cited Careem has confirming the deal, which will see it expand the three-year-old firm’s bus offering from its home market of Hyderbad to 100 cities.

The company will integrate Commut’s technology and staff and combine its drivers and customers, totalling some 70,000 people since 2015, with shuttle provider Shuttl.

The value of the transaction was not disclosed.

The deal comes amid reports of talks by global rival Uber to acquire Careem in a deal expected to value the firm at more than $1.5bn.

Bloomberg reported earlier this month that Careem’s management was working to convince shareholders of the deal.

Read: Uber continues talks to buy Dubai’s Careem – report

Careem, which operates across more than 100 cities in the Gulf region, North Africa, Turkey, Palestine, Jordan, Pakistan, Iraq, has also expanded into new services in other markets.

In February it acquired listings site RoundMenu to begin food delivery and is testing a bus booking service in Egypt.

Read: Careem acquires online restaurant listing platform, to trial food delivery