Careem, a super app headquartered in the UAE and under the Uber umbrella, has unveiled an innovative business payments tool aiming to streamline corporate expenses across its varied service range.
The tool, branded as Careem for Business, integrates expenses for rides, meals, groceries and deliveries into a singular account management system. This setup eliminates the traditional processes of petty cash claims and reimbursement paperwork, offering a seamless alternative for businesses.
Through this platform, finance departments are afforded real-time expenditure monitoring through a comprehensive dashboard integrating all services and departmental usage. Businesses also have the capability to impose usage limits based on category, team or time. The app enables employees to switch to Business mode to make purchases within company allowances.
Bassel Al Nahlaoui, Careem’s Chief Business Officer, remarked on the platform’s potential to alleviate burdens associated with traditional expense reporting. He explained that the service offers organisations a clear and straightforward method to handle expenses related to work.
This initiative marks another move by Careem to broaden its business model and strengthen connections with corporate clients after its successful ride-hailing services in sectors such as banking and telecommunications. Previously, Careem has facilitated over 1 million corporate ride bookings.
The integration across services, such as Careem Rides, Food, Quik, Shops and Box, positions the platform as the first in the Middle East to offer a unified business account covering essential operational needs like transport, food delivery, groceries and logistics.
Since its inception in 2012 and the subsequent acquisition by Uber in 2019, Careem has pursued growth beyond ride-hailing, establishing itself as a “super app” with services that span digital payments, retail delivery and mobility solutions across multiple regional markets.
Careem also recently invested in Swapp, a UAE-based digital car rental platform. The partnership promises a range of services, from on-demand and subscription car rentals to lease-to-own options.
