Careem expands to Iraq with launch of operations in Baghdad

Careem, the Dubai-headquartered ride-hailing company is expanding to Iraq with the launch of its operations in Baghdad. With this, Careem’s services are now available in more than 90 cities across 13 countries of the region that Careem likes to call broader Middle East.

Commenting on the launch of its services in Iraq, the Co-founder & CEO of Careem, Mudassir Sheikha, said, “Today marks a key milestone for Careem. Iraq is a country with rich heritage and strategic importance for the region. We are determined to overcome local challenges so that we can simplify mobility for Iraqis and create income-generating opportunities for them and their families. Through our presence on the ground, we hope to contribute to the rebuilding of Iraq to its former status as one of the leading nations in the Middle East.”

Also commenting on this occasion, the Managing Director of Emerging Markets at Careem, Ibrahim Manna, said, “We at Careem are honored to be able to launch our services in Baghdad, as this marks a significant milestone in our efforts to improve the lives of individuals and communities across the region. In addition to providing safe, innovative transportation for residents, we are also delighted to recruit Iraqi citizens to serve as Captains, providing these individuals with the opportunity to better support themselves and their families. We also hope that, by introducing new technologies and services to the country, Careem can be a powerful force for inspiring and propelling further innovation.”

Careem is not the first ride-hailing company to launch operations in Iraq. Last year, an Estonian startup Taxify, which claims to be the largest ride-sharing platform in Europe, launched their operations in Baghdad. So, Careem already has some ground to cover.

The company has officially commenced its operations in Baghdad and plans to expand in more Iraqi cities in the future. Last week, they had announced the launch of their operations in Palestinian cities of Gaza and Nablus.