Dubai-based ride-hailing giant Careem has taken a minority stake in UAE’s online car rental platform Swapp, marking a significant move to expand flexible mobility options and accelerate the region’s shift to electric and digital vehicle services.
Dubai-based Careem has taken a step further in its collaboration with UAE’s online car rental platform Swapp, by purchasing a minority stake—something that, honestly, is kind of a first for the ride-hailing giant, as it’s the first time they’ve bought into a partner app at this level. This move—well, at least to me—seems pretty strategic, pushing the boundaries of innovation and aiming to grow flexible mobility options in the Middle East, especially with the expanding car rental scene.
Back in 2022, Careem had already integrated Swapp’s service into its Everything App, which means users could rent vehicles directly from there, with the added perk of flexible subscriptions. According to the initial news, Careem Car Rental boasts a pretty wide fleet—anything from economy cars to high-end, electric models, including brands like Mitsubishi, Tesla, Porsche, BMW, and more. And get this—this partnership means customers can pick short- or long-term rentals, from daily needs to multi-month plans, with features like car swapping on demand and even a lease-to-own path.
Swapp’s approach is fully digital—no more dealing with traditional renting headaches. They deliver vehicles right to your doorstep within 24 hours after a quick online sign-up and instant KYC checks. Plus, real-time vehicle tracking through driver apps keeps things transparent during the delivery process. Swapp sources its fleet from leasing companies, OEMs, and their own vehicles, and they’re big on encouraging electric vehicle adoption within the UAE.
Uzair Moosa, Swapp’s CEO, mentioned that integrating within Careem’s app connects thousands across the region to more flexible rental options, with solid plans to boost faster delivery and regional growth. Meanwhile, Careem’s COO, Adeeb Warsi, pointed out that demand for affordable, flexible transport is rising, and he’s excited about reaching even more customers with this partnership.
Looking at the numbers, industry reports suggest a bright future. Statista estimates the UAE’s car rental revenue will hit around $175 million in 2024, growing yearly by just under 5%, reaching over $220 million by 2030. And by then, a huge chunk—about 87% of revenue—is expected to come from online sales, which aligns with consumers shifting more and more toward digital platforms like Careem and Swapp.
Careem’s Everything App has really grown beyond just ride-hailing. Today, it’s a full-blown super-app offering food, grocery delivery, digital payments—you name it—and it’s active in over 70 cities across 10 countries. Since e& bought a controlling stake in Careem’s super-app side of things late last year, the company has been stepping up efforts in digital mobility, making urban life a bit easier.
This partnership between Careem and Swapp is a pretty big move toward changing how people access vehicles in a region facing traffic jams, environmental issues, and changing customer expectations. Offering a sleek, digital-driven rental experience—especially with electric cars—also ties into the UAE’s larger sustainability goals and the push for cleaner transportation.
While Swapp has already been known as a standalone subscription platform, Careem’s new minority stake hints at deeper integration and a shared vision to push innovation in mobility tech. This investment should quicken the rollout of new features, improve vehicle availability, and boost customer experience across Middle Eastern markets.
All in all, this alliance shows how ride-hailing giants are shifting towards multi-modal transportation ecosystems—designed to cater to a broader range of commuting needs, make flexible car usage more accessible, and tackle environmental challenges. As urban mobility in the UAE evolves rapidly, Careem and Swapp seem poised to lead the way in digital transformation for car rental and subscription services.
Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://www.zawya.com/en/press-release/companies-news/careem-takes-minority-stake-in-car-rental-platform-swapp-askjb465 – Please view link – unable to able to access data
- https://www.itp.net/industry/you-can-now-rent-a-car-through-careem – In April 2022, Careem, the Dubai-based ride-hailing app, partnered with Swapp, a UAE-based car rental service, to offer car rental options through the Careem app. This integration allows customers to rent vehicles for a minimum of 30 days, with options to return or exchange the car after that period. Swapp provides a range of vehicles, from budget-friendly models like the Kia Picanto to premium options such as BMWs. The partnership aims to simplify the car rental process by offering a seamless digital experience within the Careem app.
- https://www.khaleejtimes.com/business-technology-review/book-seamless-experience – In April 2022, Careem announced its partnership with Swapp, a UAE-based car rental service, to introduce flexible car rental options within the Careem app. This collaboration enables Careem customers in the UAE to access Swapp’s car rental services directly through the app, offering a seamless digital experience. Vehicles are available for rental for a minimum of 30 days, after which customers can choose to return or exchange the car. Swapp offers a variety of vehicles, including budget-friendly options like the Kia Picanto and premium models such as BMWs.
- https://www.zawya.com/en/business/transport-and-logistics/dubais-careem-adds-swapp-car-rental-to-app-g9pn7ey4 – In April 2022, Dubai-based ride-hailing app Careem expanded its services by adding car rental options through a partnership with Swapp, a UAE-based car subscription service. This integration allows Careem users to browse and rent cars on a monthly basis, initially for a minimum of 30 days, with the flexibility to renew, return, or swap the vehicle thereafter. The partnership aims to provide increased choice and flexibility to customers seeking car rental services within the Careem app.
- https://www.logisticsgulfnews.com/transportation/careem-partners-with-swapp-to-introduce-flexible-car-rental/ – In April 2022, Careem, the leading multi-service platform in the Middle East, partnered with Swapp, a UAE-based car rental service, to offer convenient and flexible car rental options to customers. Through this collaboration, Careem users in the UAE can access Swapp’s car rental services directly within the Careem app, enabling them to select and order vehicles with ease. The partnership aims to simplify the car rental process by providing a seamless digital experience and a range of vehicle options to meet diverse customer needs.
- https://swappcars.com/about-us/ – Swapp is a UAE-based car rental service that offers a fully digitalized car rental experience, eliminating the need for renters to visit a vehicle rental company and complete excessive administration. Vehicles are delivered directly to the customer’s doorstep within 24 hours following a simple online registration process. Swapp provides a robust marketplace with a supply of vehicles from car leasing companies, original equipment manufacturers, and its own fleet. The company is embracing the adoption of electric vehicles by offering more electric car models in the UAE.
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Careem – Careem is a Dubai-based super-app operating in over 70 cities across 10 countries in the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia. The app offers a range of services, including ride-hailing, bicycle rental, food delivery, grocery delivery, and digital wallets. In December 2023, e& acquired a majority stake in Careem’s Super App business for a $400 million investment. Careem’s ride-hailing business remains wholly owned by Uber, while the Careem Super App is owned by e&, Uber, and all three of Careem’s co-founders.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
8
Notes:
The narrative appears to be original, with no evidence of prior publication. The earliest known publication date of similar content is April 2022, when Careem partnered with Swapp to introduce flexible car rental options. ([biztoday.news](https://www.biztoday.news/2022/04/15/careem-partners-with-swapp-to-introduce-flexible-car-rental-on-the-careem-app/?utm_source=openai)) The current report indicates a new development, suggesting a high freshness score.
Quotes check
Score:
9
Notes:
The direct quotes from Uzair Moosa, Swapp’s CEO, and Adeeb Warsi, Careem’s COO, do not appear in earlier material, indicating potential originality. No identical quotes were found in prior publications.
Source reliability
Score:
7
Notes:
The narrative originates from Zawya, a news platform that aggregates content from various sources. While it provides timely information, its aggregation model may affect the reliability of the content. The lack of direct attribution to primary sources raises some concerns about the authenticity of the information.
Plausability check
Score:
8
Notes:
The claims about Careem’s investment in Swapp align with previous reports of Careem’s expansion into various services beyond ride-hailing. The narrative’s tone and language are consistent with typical corporate communications, suggesting a plausible development.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): OPEN
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM
Summary:
The narrative presents a plausible and timely development regarding Careem’s investment in Swapp. While the content appears original and the claims are consistent with Careem’s strategic direction, the reliance on aggregated sources and the lack of direct attribution to primary sources raise concerns about the authenticity and reliability of the information. Further verification from primary sources is recommended to confirm the details of this development.
