News

e& To Become A Major Stakeholder In The Careem Super App

e& will invest $400 million into the Careem Super App, in line with plans to transform the brand into a global technology and investments group.

Published

3 years ago

April 10, 2023

Nour Nasir

Careem

e& has announced a new $400 million deal with Uber, and its local subsidiary Careem. The technology and investment group will acquire a majority stake in the Careem Super App, though the ride-hailing service will remain in Uber’s ownership and continue to offer its existing food delivery, micro-mobility, and fintech services to customers across the MENA region.

“We are excited to bring e& into the family. Their passion for uplifting the region and the synergies across their portfolio is extremely valuable. With two strong partners in e& and Uber, I have no doubt that we will build the preeminent technology platform of the region,” says Mudassir Sheikha, Careem CEO, and co-founder.

Careem will use the investment to expand core services and the Careem Plus subscription program, with the aim of becoming North Africa and the Middle East’s “everything app”.

Careem expects significant benefits from the e& partnership, including access to a customer base of 163 million subscribers across 16 countries. The investment will also unlock e&’s extensive experience in scaling complex tech ventures into new regions.

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

“The shared vision between e& and Careem is exciting, and we believe that together we’ll be able to enhance our impact across different markets in the region while pushing the boundaries of customer experience,” says e& Group CEO Hatem Dowidar.

Since being acquired by Uber in 2020, Careem has evolved into a multi-service app offering more than 12 individual services. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, UAE food delivery subsidiary Quik has grown 46X, with orders increasing by 86%. Meanwhile, micro-mobility service Careem Bike saw gains of 61%, while the company also brought new third-party services under its umbrella, including rental cars, spas, and laundry services.

Completion of the latest deal with e& will see even more comprehensive services offered, though the investment is still subject to regulatory approval and other administrative procedures.

News

Syria Just Got Its First Super App Featuring Built-In Digital Payments

Built by UAE-based Syrian founders with the Ministry of Tourism’s backing, My Syria lands as visitor numbers more than double.

Published

5 days ago

August 1, 2026

Nour Nasir

syria just got its first super app featuring built-in digital payments

For most of the past decade, paying for anything in Syria with an international card was effectively impossible. Sanctions, a collapsed banking sector, and years of isolation left the country running on cash. That is what makes the launch of My Syria — the country’s first super app — more than a routine product announcement.

Developed by 121 Living, a company founded by four UAE-based Syrian entrepreneurs — Rami Kaiem, Feras Kaiem, Waseem Qudmani, and Kinan Madi — the app launched in Damascus on July 30 under the patronage of Minister of Tourism Mazen Al-Salhani. It bundles hotels, restaurants, transport, attractions, food delivery, and other lifestyle services into a single platform, currently offering eight services with plans to expand to more than 40 verified tourism and hospitality providers across the country.

Although the app already sounds enticing, the headline feature is its built-in payments. My Syria is the first platform in Syria to support cross-border digital payments through Apple Pay, Google Pay, Visa, Mastercard, and American Express — familiar tools for international visitors, and a route into the digital economy for local businesses that have long operated outside it.

my syria super app launch event

The launch rides on a sharp rebound for the troubled country. Syria’s tourism sector recorded 3.52 million visitor arrivals in the first half of 2026, a 111 percent increase over the 1.67 million during the same period in 2025 — a mix of returning expatriates, regional visitors, and international tourists.

Also Read: This UAE Platform Wants To Replace Fashion Photo Shoots With AI

The Ministry of Tourism, which supported and supervised the app’s development, frames the launch as proof of concept for a wider strategy. “Digital transformation is one of the Ministry’s strategic priorities because it enables us to build a more competitive, connected and investment-ready tourism sector,” Al-Salhani said, inviting technology companies “globally, regionally and locally” to explore opportunities across the wider economy.

For 121 Living, this is phase one, with additional services and expanded geographic coverage planned. Whether a super app can flourish in a market still rebuilding its infrastructure is an open question, but for the first time in years, a visitor to Damascus can pay for dinner with their phone.