Dubai’s Careem to remain independent despite Uber interest, says co-founder

Dubai-based ride-hailing app Careem will remain an independent, local company despite interest from Eastern and Western investors, such as US rival Uber and Chinese firm Didi Chuxing, according to co-founder Magnus Olsson.

Speaking during an onstage interview at Startup Battlefield MENA in Beirut, Olsson said Careem would have to remain independent in order to maintain its goal of inspiring others to build start ups in the region for the region.

“There is very strong interest in Careem from both East and West,” he said.

“The reason we started Careem and the reason we continue doing what we’re doing, is to simplify the lives of people in the region, do something meaningful and build an awesome organisation that inspires. If you’re going to keep inspiring, you have to stay independent,” he said.

“We want to tell everyone, both local and international, that you can build awesome tech companies from the region in the region and we should build more,” he added.

Continue building

Olsson’s statement comes two weeks after sources revealed Uber is in discussions to buy its Dubai-based rival as the US giant expands in the Middle East. The deal could value Careem at $2.5 billion, people familiar with the matter said.

However, the Careem co-founder showed no signs that the acquisition will take place.

“Our goal forward is to continue building what we have built, continue expanding in our geographies and enter into additional verticals, because there is wide space in the Middle East to go into multiple verticals,” he said, referring to the firm’s acquisition of India-based bus shuttle service app Cummut in September and online restaurant listing platform RoundMenu in February.

Middle East potential

In August last year, however, the start-up revealed a partnership with China’s largest ride-hailing firm Didi Chuxing as it also expands into the Middle East.

Didi acquired Uber’s China business in 2016, in a deal which valued the combined company at $35bn. More

By Lubna Hamdan  arabianbusiness.com