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Careem Suspends Its Ride-Hailing Services In Qatar
The announcement comes without any official explanation, though is thought to be due to a lack of regulatory approval.
Yesterday (Monday, February 27), Uber Technologies sent a message to customers informing them that Careem, the Dubai-based company acquired by the ride-hailing giant in 2019 for $3.1 billion, will cease operations in Qatar today.
The surprise announcement comes just two months after Qatar’s soccer World Cup, which saw Careem-branded vehicles forming part of the official transport infrastructure, alongside Uber cars and local taxis from Karwa.
“Unfortunately, Careem’s ride-hailing operations will no longer operate in Qatar as of February 28, 2023,” informed the message, telling customers that Careem credit would be refunded by March 15, 2023.
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Careem’s message did not explain the cancellation of the service, and no one has responded to requests for comment, including parent company Uber.
Careem only offered ride-hailing services in Qatar, unlike larger Middle Eastern markets like the United Arab Emirates, where the super app also provides food delivery, digital payments and courier services.
The company suspended its services in Lebanon last year due to the unfavorable economic situation in the country.