Sharjah Transport Solutions to work with Careem for more mobility options in the Emirate

Under the directives of Sheikha Bodour Al Qasimi, Chairperson of the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq), the “Sharjah Transport Solutions”, the managing transportation unit of Shurooq Al Emarat signed an operational contract with Careem, the region’s leading smart car-booking service, in order to bring the latest traveling options to the emirate’s communities.

HE Marwan Bin Jassim Al Sarkal, CEO of Shurooq and Vice Chairperson of Shurooq Al Emarat Board, and Bassel Al Nahlaoui, Managing Director - Gulf at Careem, the UAE-based chauffeur-driven car service, signed the contract. As economic growth in Sharjah continues to achieve record highs, Shurooq expects the number of Careem cars operating in the emirate to exceed over several hundred by 2018.

HE Muhammad Abdullah Al Jarman, Chairperson of Shurooq Al Emarat Board, and General Manager of Emirates Transport, said: “Sharjah has been experiencing a steady growth in the number of its residents, tourists and visitors, requiring us to meet the high demand for road transport services for various parts of the emirate. We signed this agreement ((contract)) with Careem knowing that it has proved itself as a leading player in providing a safe transport system.”

He added: “We expect that this strategic partnership with Careem will provide great benefits for Sharjah’s residents. It is an agreement which highlights the government’s approach to adopting the latest technology in its goal of a comprehensive digital transformation, alongside the RTA’s own ambitions”.

For his part, HE Marwan Al Sarkal, CEO of Shurooq and Vice Chairperson of Shurooq Al Emarat Board said: “At Shurooq Al Emarat, we aim to further drive economic growth and accordingly establishing the emirate as one of the most important and attractive business and tourist destinations in the region, as well as help meet the increasing demands by visitors and residents, ensuring their convenience and welfare. Signing the contract with Careem comes within the framework of ensuring that we are providing the modern and efficient systems that meet the aspirations of Sharjah’s residents.”

He added: “Careem’s presence in Sharjah will help meet smart mobility and increased access to more transport options, particularly with a view to the massive expansion in entertainment and cultural events being organised across the emirate. It also provides the highest standards of welfare and high-end services to residents, through a spectrum of transport options, which furthers the integration and of Sharjah’s transport network.”

Shurooq is eager to draw leading service companies that provide the highest standards of welfare and high-end services to residents. The agreement with one of the most innovative public transport companies reflects Shurooq’s efforts to serve and help drive the emirate’s increasing economic success while achieving the highest standards of sustainability.”

Bassel Al Nahlaoui, Managing Director - Gulf at Careem highlighted the importance of the strategic location of Sharjah, which shares borders with all other emirates, representing a natural extension for Careem’s business in the UAE.

“Sharjah is a prominent market, which is crucial for our company’s vision and its ability to provide transport services to clients in any part of the UAE. We expect to see a tremendous demand in the emirate as we ramp up our supply there,” Al Nahlaoui said.

Explaining how the Careem app works, Al Nahlaoui said: “Being a pioneer in the technology of linking passengers with drivers, Careem uses an integrated system that has convenience as its central theme. Careem enables customers to book a car through the simplest single tap on their smart phones and the nearest driver available will be sent to their location. The app displays an estimate time of arrival for the driver heading to the rider’s pickup location and notifies the rider when the driver is about to arrive. It also provides information about the driver to enable both the driver and customer to communicate.”

Al Nahlaoui noted that Careem enjoys the highest standards of safety since all data about drivers and riders are recorded, while all trips are directly monitored by satellite. When a trip ends, Careem allows its customers to pay either in cash or by debit cards.

He said: “We have already finished the trial period to assess the impact of using the Careem app in the emirate where we have had highly positive feedback. This has encouraged us enormously to introduce a strong presence in Sharjah, one of the best destinations for business in the UAE.”

The Sharjah Transport Solutions, a pioneering company in providing transport innovative solutions and services, is a subsidiary of the Shurooq Al Emarat Company, the managing transportation unit which was as a result of a strategic partnership between the Sharjah Investment and Development Authority (Shurooq), and the Emirates Transport, UAE’s pioneering company in the field of transport and technical and logistic services.