News

Payment Experts Payrails Team With Ride Hailing App inDrive

The partnership solves the complexities of integrating various regional payment service providers into the global mobility service.

Published

11 months ago

May 22, 2024

Nour Nasir

Payrails

Payment platform Payrails has announced a strategic collaboration with inDrive, the world’s second-most-downloaded ride-hailing app. The partnership is already helping the California-based inDrive overcome the complexities of integrating various payment service providers and alternative payment methods across different regions, including MENA.

Payrails’ solution is provider agnostic, and features dynamic payment routing, and extended coverage of alternative (regional) payment methods. The technology is complex, but the main takeaway is that inDrive has already seen an 11% increase in card approval rates and significantly boosted conversions, enhancing profits for inDrive and improving income security for its workers.

Payrails also delivers a streamlined experience for inDrive’s developers by offering a single API (application programming interface) eliminating the need for multiple individual integrations with different regional payment providers and payment methods.

Vasiliy Everstov, Head of Fintech at inDrive, expressed enthusiasm about the results, stating: “Partnering with Payrails empowers us to activate all of our key payment objectives for the business across our top priority markets. Together, we are driving tech innovation in the mobility industry and unlocking new opportunities for drivers and consumers alike”.

Also Read: A Guide To Digital Payment Methods In The Middle East

Orkhan Abdullayev, Co-Founder and CEO of Payrails echoed this sentiment, remarking, “Collaborating with inDrive to revolutionize global payment processing underscores our commitment to providing innovative solutions in the MENA region and beyond that address the evolving needs of large enterprises. Our aim is to set new benchmarks of excellence for payment solutions across key industries worldwide”.

Through the collaboration, inDrive can now access and automate the optimal payment routes in each market at the lowest cost, driving efficiency and profitability in a highly competitive sector.

News

Rabbit Expands Hyperlocal Delivery Service In Saudi Arabia

The e-commerce startup is aiming to tap into the Kingdom’s underdeveloped e-grocery sector with a tech-first, locally rooted strategy.

Published

2 days ago

April 7, 2025

Nour Nasir

Rabbit

Rabbit, an Egyptian-born hyperlocal e-commerce startup, is expanding into the Saudi Arabian market, setting its sights on delivering 20 million items across major cities by 2026.

The company, founded in 2021, is already operational in the Kingdom, with its regional headquarters now open in Riyadh and an established network of strategically located fulfillment centers — commonly known as “dark stores” — across the capital.

The timing is strategic: Saudi Arabia’s online grocery transactions currently sit at 1.3%, notably behind the UAE (5.3%) and the United States (4.8%). With the Kingdom’s food and grocery market estimated at $60 billion, even a modest increase in online adoption could create a multi-billion-dollar opportunity.

Rabbit also sees a clear alignment between its business goals and Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030, which aims to boost retail sector innovation, support small and medium-sized enterprises, attract foreign investment, and develop a robust digital economy.

The company’s e-commerce model is based on speed and efficiency. Delivery of anything from groceries and snacks to cosmetics and household staples is promised in 20 minutes or less, facilitated by a tightly optimized logistics system — a crucial component in a sector where profit margins and delivery expectations are razor-thin.

Despite the challenges, Rabbit has already found its stride in Egypt. In just over three years, the app has been used by 1.4 million customers to deliver more than 40 million items. Revenue has surged, growing more than eightfold in the past two years alone.

Also Read: Top E-Commerce Websites In The Middle East In 2025

CEO and Co-Founder Ahmad Yousry commented: “We are delighted to announce Rabbit’s expansion into the Kingdom. We pride ourselves on being a hyperlocal company, bringing our bleeding-edge tech and experience to transform the grocery shopping experience for Saudi households, and delivering the best products – especially local favorites, in just 20 minutes”.

The company’s growth strategy avoids the pitfalls of over-reliance on aggressive discounting. Instead, Rabbit leans on operational efficiency, customer retention, and smart scaling. The approach is paying off, having already attracted major investment from the likes of Lorax Capital Partners, Global Ventures, Raed Ventures, and Beltone Venture Capital, alongside earlier investors such as Global Founders Capital, Goodwater Capital, and Hub71.