Careem launches in Gaza and Nablus

Dubai-based ride-hailing service Careem has announced the launch of its services in the Palestinian cities of Gaza and Nablus.

In a statement, the company said that ‘hundreds of captains’ (Careem drivers) have enrolled with the platform to provide transportation services in the two cities, with the company’s fleet including private cars that have been licensed by the authorities, as well as Nablus’s taxi cabs.

“We are excited to expand our mission in Palestine to Gaza and Nablus – two cities with significant untapped potential for mobility and youth unemployment,” said Mudassir Sheikha, CEO and co-founder of Careem.

“Careem’s objective in Palestine is to simplify the lives of people through and advanced mobility infrastructure, create tens of thousands of income-generating opportunities for local youth, and hopefully inspire other regional businesses to expand to Palestine.”

The firm’s managing director of emerging markets, Ibrahim Manna, added: “Careem takes pride in serving Palestine, as part of its overall commitment to expanding its services to the rest of Palestinian Governorates – a dedication also backed by the interest of its customers in Ramallah City during its soft launch stage.

“This opportunity coincides with an important development in neighbouring country Jordan, following the statement issued by the Jordanian Prime Ministry authorising Careem to operate in the country.

“We’re delighted to be implementing smart and safe transportation services for the people of Palestine.”

Careem expects the number of Captains in Palestine to rise to more than 5,000 in the next three years – joining the 500,000-plus Captains operating today across the broader Middle East, North Africa, Turkey and Pakistan.

Established in 2012, the company operated in more than 90 cities across more than 13 countries, with over 15 million people registered as users.