Skip to content Skip to Search
Skip navigation

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

By Megha Merani
Careem driver Pexels/Aboodi Vesakaran
Careem started out as a ride-hailing app
  • 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.

“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.

Latest articles

Acwa Power has 75 assets in various development stages and operations in the Middle East, Africa, Central Asia and Southeast Asia

Acwa Power secures $3bn for Saudi renewable projects

Saudi renewables major Acwa Power has secured funding of SAR11.4 billion ($3 billion) for two projects in the kingdom. The company signed a debt financing agreement worth SAR5.7 billion for the development and construction of a 1,800 megawatt (MW) combined cycle power plant in Madinah. It also signed a deal to obtain SAR5.7 billion in funding […]

The DFM is actively looking to expand beyond established companies, focusing on startups and adding new sectors

Dubai focuses on pre-IPO stage for startups

Dubai Financial Market (DFM) is focusing on supporting startups in the pre-initial public offering (IPO) stage to raise capital and connect them with potential investors, CEO Hamed Ali has said. “Diversifying the investor base is one of the top priorities for DFM,” Ali was quoted as saying in an interview with the UAE state-owned Wam […]

Fakeeh IPO

Institutions snap up share of Fakeeh Care Group IPO in minutes

Institutional investors snapped up their slice of shares in the Saudi healthcare conglomerate Fakeeh Care Group within minutes of the start of the book-building process for the company’s IPO. Fakeeh Care Group, which was founded in Jeddah in 1978, has set the price range for its initial public offering (IPO) at between SAR53 ($14.13) and […]

Lebanon EU aid

Lebanon to receive $1bn in financial aid from the EU

A financial aid package for Lebanon from the EU valued at more than $1 billion was announced on Thursday by the European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen.  The money, most of which will be grants, will be made available over the next three years. Some will go towards helping to control the flow of […]