Careem and ekar partner to offer flexible car sharing in Saudi Arabia

Careem, the region’s leading multi-service app, launches Careem CarSharing in Riyadh in partnership with ekar, the Middle East’s largest car sharing service provider. 

Through Careem CarSharing customers can pick up and return vehicles from multiple locations within Riyadh for as little as a minute or an hour up to several days or weeks. They can choose from a diverse fleet of vehicles including SUVs, family cars, and sedans that are parked across the city. Careem CarSharing will soon be available on the Careem Everything App in other cities in the Kingdom. 

Careem CarSharing combines seamless booking, keyless unlocking and Careem Pay payment functionalities through a user-friendly Careem interface, thereby revolutionizing urban self-drive mobility. ekar uses AI technology to manage vehicle locations and availability, thereby reducing the distances customers need to walk to get to a car.

The partnership was signed at a ceremony by Abdulla Elyas, Co-founder and Saudi Chairman at Careem, and Mohammad Maaddawi, ekar General Manager for Saudi Arabia. 

Abdulla Elyas, Co-founder and Saudi Chairman at Careem, said, "Careem is driven by a purpose to simplify and improve lives and we’re thrilled to have simplified mobility for millions in Saudi Arabia through ride-hailing and our new Careem Bike network. We’re now partnering with ekar to bring Careem car sharing to our customers. Car sharing is a sustainable transport model that enables people to save costs on transport and helps the environment by reducing the number of cars needed to cater to transportation needs in our cities."

Mohammad Maaddawi, ekar General Manager, commented: “ekar has been delivering unparalleled flexibility and convenience to Saudi customers for years, supporting the evolving needs and preferences of modern urban travelers. We are excited to partner with Careem to achieve our goal of enhancing the lives of a larger population in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.”

The Careem Everything App enables over 10 million customers across the Kingdom to hail a ride, book a car or use a Careem bike to move in and around their cities, as well as order their everyday favourite meals. More than 70,000 Saudi nationals use the Careem app to access flexible economic opportunities every month.

-ENDS-