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Dubai-Based Carasti Lets You Rent A Car For Up To Two Years
Carasti describes itself as an all-inclusive car subscription app that removes all the hassle associated with car ownership, such as service and maintenance, while preserving all the benefits.
Due to environmental and safety regulations, as well as rising costs of insurance and fuel, the cost of car ownership has never been higher. While modern public transportation systems in many countries already provide an attractive alternative, the recent COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted their limitations. Fortunately, there’s another option available: long-term car renting, and McKinsey predicts that it will generate almost 30 percent of the automotive industry’s revenue by 2030 thanks to startups like Carasti, which has just launched its service following a successful pre-Series A funding round last month.
Based in Dubai, Carasti describes itself as an all-inclusive car subscription app that removes all the hassle associated with car ownership, such as service and maintenance, while preserving all the benefits.
Carasti
“Our subscription model aims to make car ownership as flexible and affordable as possible, providing our customers with an easy alternative to car ownership,” explains the company’s CEO, Claudio Esposito-Aiardo. “There are no hidden costs, no extra fees, and no financial surprises. We simply don’t believe that you should be weighing yourself down with debts, bank loans, and payments just to drive a car.”
Also Read: Dubai-Based Startup Huspy Helps Emiratis Buy Homes Online
Carasti users can choose between two distinct subscription models. The month-to-month subscription model provides access to a variety of nearly new cars with a monthly, 6 month or yearly commitment. The mini lease subscription model lets users choose a 12 or 24-month plan on a brand-new car.
Regardless of which model you pick, you always have to provide only your Emirates ID, driving license, passport copy, or visa copy. All subscriptions include insurance, maintenance, roadside assistance, and flexible car switching. Carasti supports both Android and iOS devices, and your first car can be delivered to you in as little as 4 hours from downloading it.
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Influencer Growth Fuels Saudi Creator Economy Surge
The Kingdom’s creator economy grew over 32% in Q1 2025, fueled by TikTok, UGC, and cost-per-action (CPA) influencer models.
Saudi Arabia’s creator economy saw a significant 32.37% growth in the first quarter of 2025, driven by an uptick in influencer marketing, content-driven e-commerce, and the increasing influence of user-generated content (UGC). These insights come from a recent study by Admitad and the Stllr Network.
Much of this momentum is coming from video-based platforms, where brands are leaning on creators who feel more relatable than polished ad campaigns. The trend shows a clear preference for authenticity, as audiences gravitate toward content that feels real and personal.
Mohannad Alzahrani, Co-founder and VP KSA of Stllr Network, highlighted the shift: “The rise of user-generated content (UGC) is changing the way brands engage with consumers. Audiences trust real creators more than traditional advertising, making UGC a key driver of authenticity and sales”.
TikTok remains the dominant platform in this space, reportedly reaching 88% of the Saudi population. It also showed the sharpest rise in influencer-led transactions. Other platforms followed with solid, if less dramatic, growth: X was up 17%, Instagram increased by 12%, and Telegram by 10%.
In terms of content niches, beauty led the pack with a 56% growth rate, followed by lifestyle at 45.8% and fashion at 18.2%. Tech content also showed healthy traction at 10.6%, while entertainment, food, fitness, parenting, and gaming posted smaller — but still positive — gains.
Also Read: Top E-Commerce Websites In The Middle East In 2025
The report analyzed more than 300,000 influencer-driven purchases. These efforts translated into a 15% year-on-year jump in Gross Merchandise Value (GMV) and a 5% increase in the number of orders in 2024. Influencers themselves are seeing the benefit, with average order values hitting $54 and creator earnings rising by 14%.
A noticeable trend is the move away from fixed-rate deals. More influencers in Saudi Arabia are embracing hybrid compensation models — especially cost-per-action (CPA) setups that tie their earnings directly to performance.
As Anna Gidirim, CEO of Admitad, explains, “The CPA model brings much-needed transparency to influencer marketing. Brands only pay for actual results, and influencers benefit by securing long-term partnerships while offering their audiences exclusive promo codes and special discounts”.
However, the ecosystem still shows a gender imbalance. The data indicates that 63% of creators in Saudi Arabia are men, while women account for just 37%.
Influencer Growth Fuels Saudi Creator Economy Surge
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