Clarification: Careem ‘not exploring’ partnerships with China’s Trip.com

Pexels/Aboodi Vesakaran

• This article was first published on Monday October 16, 2023 and updated on Wednesday October 18

Careem has clarified that it is not in official discussions with China’s largest online travel company Trip.com Group to offer its services on its app.

Established in Dubai in 2012 offering a ride-hailing service, Careem has grown to what it calls a “Super App”, offering a range of services from local and global companies including laundry services, home cleaning and car rentals.

• Careem could yet be hailed a smart buy for Uber
• Dubai’s Hala reports 36% rise in trips as user numbers up
• China funds look to Middle East as US investments wane

“So we were discussing before the panel for Trip.com services to be on the Careem Super App so we can become a gateway to the Middle East for companies in Asia,” Mudassir Sheikha, Careem’s co-founder and CEO, said at the Gitex technology conference in Dubai.

“These are all things that are on the table at the moment.”

Careem on Tuesday issued a statement to AGBI, saying: “At the 2023 SuperBridge conference in Dubai, Careem’s CEO discussed the topic of digital partnerships between the Middle East and Asia and referenced an example with Trip.com. 

“Careem is not exploring integration with Trip.com. Careem’s strategy focuses on expanding the super app across the Middle East to make it simpler for more people to move around, order food and groceries, manage payments, and more.”

Careem, which operates across 80 cities in 10 countries, was acquired by US rival Uber in 2020 for $3.1 billion.

In April, e& – the UAE telecommunications company previously known as Etisalat – announced it had acquired a majority stake in Super App from Uber, in a deal worth $400 million. Uber retained ownership of the Careem ride-hailing business.