Careem launches ‘super app’ to offer ride-hailing, delivery and payments on one platform

Dubai-based Careem has launched a new ‘super app’ to offer all its services on a single platform.

The company, which has been hit hard by the Covid-19 pandemic, said that the new app will provide ride-hailing, food delivery as well as Careem Pay services to all its users.

From the end of June 2020, an expanded range of services will be available to all its 33 million registered users, a statement said.

Careem began expanding its core business initially with food and delivery in 2019 and also expanded into payment services under Careem Pay.

“The move from offline to online commerce is a secular and significant opportunity, one that has accelerated as a result of the global pandemic,” said Mudassir Sheikha, co-founder and CEO of Careem.

Offering a “single sign-on and integrated payment system”, Careem is “tailoring products and services to local needs”, he added.

On the Careem super app, users can arrange a ride, order food from over 10,000 partner restaurants across the region, and order daily essentials from supermarkets, pharmacies or other businesses. Users can also choose a business not yet on the super app and have goods purchased and picked up by a Careem driver and delivered to them.

Every user has access to Careem Pay and they can also transfer credit via the platform to split a bill. Careem rewards points can be redeemed for discounts on rides, food, partner services or donated to charities.

“From a business performance perspective, Careem expects to see increased revenues, lower customer acquisition costs and improved customer retention metrics through cross selling and customer use of multiple products and services,” the statement said.

The roll-out of the super app started in March 2020 and is expected to complete by the end of June 2020.

Currently, across Dubai, it offers services such as ride-hailing, RTA taxi, intercity, food delivery, delivery of things, shops, money transfer and mobile recharge.

For Abu Dhabi, the Careem super app offers ride-hailing, intercity, delivery of things, shops, money transfer and mobile recharge.

Looking ahead, the company also plans to open up the platform to third parties and developers to build their own services.

Careem, which was acquired by Uber for $3.1bn last year, cut 536 jobs or 31 per cent of its workforce last month due to the impact of coronavirus-related restrictions on its business.

Read: Dubai’s Careem cuts 536 jobs, Uber Eats to stop Saudi operations

However, earlier this month, Sheikha said it had started to see recovery since early May, and business had been “growing week-on-week double digit”.

Read: Uber’s Middle East unit Careem sees recovery after 80% slump