Transportation network company Careem has entered the food delivery market with the launch of its Careem Now platform in two Middle Eastern cities – Dubai and Jeddah.
Careem is also planning to invest more than $150m in the online delivery platform to grow its business.
It operates the platform as an independent application, separate from its ride-hailing business and offers delivery through a marketplace and dedicated-fleet model.
The company aims to create the biggest online delivery platform for goods and services in the region.
Careem Now provides items offered by nearby restaurants, curated collections, search options, sorting and tagging options based on cuisine and dietary requirements, recommended dishes, and tracking of orders in real time.
In Dubai, the Careem Now delivery service is currently available at Business Bay, Jumeirah 1, JLT, Marina, Tecom, Al Quoz, Diera, Garhoud, Motor City, and Sports City.
In Jeddah, the service is available at Al Rawdha, Al Salamah, Al Naeem, Al Hamra, Al Andalus, Al Khalidiya, Al Safa, and Al Zahraa.
The platform operates seven days a week, in line with restaurant operating hours and also offers a dedicated call centre. Customers will be charged a fee for using the delivery service.
The company currently has more than 33 million customers on its riding platform and the food delivery system will enhance the firm’s offerings. Existing customers can log into the new platform using their credentials.
Careem also plans to introduce the delivery platform in Egypt and Pakistan in the near future.
