Antonio Al Asmar

With aspirations to further grow in the Kuwaiti market, Careem plans to enhance awareness of its technology and services, expand eco-friendly initiatives, and forge more partnerships with local public entities.

What unique challenges and opportunities has Careem encountered in Kuwait?

Careem launched in Kuwait in 2016, and since then it has witnessed an increasing uptake in the number of people that use the app. Our mission of simplifying people’s lives resonated well in the Kuwaiti community. Nonetheless, we experienced challenges in our early days, on the regulatory front for example as the sector was still nascent. However, through continuous collaboration and working closely with different ministries, we were able to overcome this challenge. Another difficult period was during the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to global lockdowns and consequently a decline in the number of trips facilitated through the Careem platform. Thankfully, we recovered strongly since then and we plan to sustain this momentum moving forward.

What elements does Careem employ to differentiate from the other service providers?

Our key differentiator is that we are a technology platform, first and foremost. Therefore, the way we differentiate ourselves is by continuously innovating our technology, systems, and the algorithms that we use to facilitate rides through our platform, which help us to bring various features that simplify people’s everyday lives. We are proud of our tech, which millions rely on daily for reliable, convenient, and stress-free commutes, and it enables us to bring the Careem app to as many people as possible across the region. We are continuously working on ways to improve everyone’s experience on the Careem app, including customers who use it for a reliable and convenient everyday commuting experience, and Captains who benefit from the flexible economic opportunities the technology brings them.

Has Careem launched any eco-friendly initiatives in Kuwait?

As the region’s super app bringing multiple everyday offerings including delivery and ride-hailing, Careem is committed to having a positive impact on the environment and the communities it exists in. In the UAE for example, Careem has taken significant steps that include actively increasing the number of electric and hybrid vehicles on the platform. We continuously explore similar new products or solutions which we hope to be able to introduce in the future in Kuwait and across the region.

What are your aspirations for Careem in Kuwait?

We are really excited to be here in Kuwait, and to bring the Careem app to customers around the country. Our goal is to continue to grow in the market, and to provide services that simplify the everyday lives of everyone who uses the Careem app. We will always keep adapting to local needs, continuously innovating to provide ride-hailing options for different use cases and customers bringing a convenient, reliable and stress-free everyday experience. However, we believe we still have a lot of work to do when it comes to creating awareness around the technology we bring and the everyday reliable and convenient commute experience it provides. Ordering a ride using the Careem app is more reliable, convenient, and stress-free compared to hailing down a cab. This is in addition to the array of features which customers enjoy when taking a Careem ride, which include scheduling a ride for later, tracking a ride, and the secure payment options, in addition to many more. We also have a 24/7 customer support team available to help customers. Our aim is to keep adapting to local market needs and continuously innovate to elevate the ride-hailing experience for customers using the Careem app, who are looking for a reliable and convenient everyday commuting experience. As we look at 2024, we aim to become a key player in the Kuwait market. We believe the momentum is already there, but we intend to double down on our efforts and achieve even more. One key area that we are focused on is expanding our partnerships with the local public and private sectors. In 2023, we had a number of strong partnerships including one with the Sultan Center, and this year we plan to form more collaborations with different entities including hotels, local suppliers, educational institutions and universities.