UAE consumers increasingly rely on super apps for their daily needs, a trend clearly reflected in Careem‘s latest data from the Holy Month of Ramadan. Navigating a period marked by regional uncertainty, the app reported massive shifts in consumer behavior across quick commerce, digital payments, and micro-mobility, alongside a highly successful humanitarian campaign.
Quick Facts
- Raised AED 2.1 million for Gaza relief efforts.
- Quik grocery orders surged 81 percent during Suhoor.
- UAE Careem Plus members saved over AED 300 million.
Driving Humanitarian Impact Through Everyday Spending
Careem leveraged its massive user base to support humanitarian relief this Ramadan through its “Seeds for Gaza” initiative. The company temporarily altered the Arabic dot in its logo to resemble watermelon seeds, channeling customer engagement directly into aid.
The campaign mobilized 4,840 customers, internal colleagues, and various partners to raise over AED 2.1 million. The integration of charitable giving into daily app usage proved highly effective; within the food vertical alone, users connected 47,500 orders across 110 brands to the campaign.
E-Commerce and Food Delivery Shifts in the UAE
Shopping and dining behaviors shifted aggressively around fasting schedules. Careem Quik, the platform’s rapid grocery delivery service, recorded a 33 percent increase in orders around Iftar (5:00 to 6:00 pm). Suhoor activity saw an even steeper climb, with 4:00 am orders surging 81 percent compared to the week prior to Ramadan.
The most frequently ordered grocery items reflected basic fasting necessities: bottled water, bananas, and cucumbers. Notably, the platform’s supply chain executed its fastest grocery delivery of the month in under two minutes for a single packet of Doritos.
Careem Food also maintained strong demand. Fast food dominated Suhoor hours, while Iftar preferences leaned toward lentil soup, burgers, and hummus, with Zaatar w Zeit emerging as a top choice. The scale of individual orders also spiked, highlighted by an 82-item grocery order in Dubai and massive Iftar feasts from Sushi Buzz in Dubai and Pizza Di Rocco in Abu Dhabi.
Fintech Growth and Cross-Border Remittances
Careem Pay, the app’s digital wallet and remittance arm, reported heavy international transfer volume. As families prioritized financial support during the Holy Month, cross-border remittance activity rose significantly.
India maintained its position as the top transfer corridor by volume, while Bangladesh recorded the fastest growth. Highlighting the speed and utility of the service, the fastest transfer of the month reached India in just 12 seconds. Another highly active user executed 70 separate transfers to the Philippines over a 21-day period.
Subscription Savings and Captain Generosity
The company’s subscription model, Careem Plus, generated substantial consumer value, with UAE members saving a combined total of over AED 300 million. The most active individual subscriber recorded AED 17,847 in savings. The dominant services utilized by subscribers were Food, Hala (taxi), and Quik.
Despite regional challenges, user generosity remained high. Through Careem’s tip-matching campaign, customers heavily supported the Captains driving the platform’s logistics. One standout user in Dubai tipped AED 950 across nine trips, averaging nearly AED 107 per ride.
About Careem
Careem is building the Everything App for the Middle East and wider region, making it easier than ever to move around, order food and groceries, manage payments, and more. Careem is led by a powerful purpose to simplify and improve the lives of people and build an awesome organization that inspires. Since 2012, Careem has created earning opportunities for over 3.5 million Captains, simplified the lives of over 75 million customers, and built a platform for the region’s best talent to thrive and for entrepreneurs to scale their businesses. Careem has a presence in over 70 cities across 10 countries, from Morocco to Pakistan.
Source: Zawya
