Dubai – Mubasher: Ride-hailing app Careem on Monday announced resuming its services in Muscat, Oman, after signing a deal with a local taxi firm.
The ride-hailer had suspended its operations in Oman last year shortly after the initial launch and after the Omani government had asked the company to work with licensed taxis.
Through Careem’s new deal with Oman’s Marhaba Taxi, the company seeks to register Marhaba’s driver via its app, the company said in a statement.
Careem revealed that under the deal, trips booked through its mobile app would be charged the same fare as regular taxis in the Gulf country, while Careem itself would handle other items such payments and customer services.
The Dubai-headquartered company further unveiled plans to introduce its services across the sultanate, by expanding in all major cities.
Generally, ride-hailing apps have suffered much opposition as they compete with local taxis. Among the countries where Careem, and other ride-hailers, have endured problems were Egypt in April this year and Ramallah in March. In the latter, Careem resumed services after matching its fares to that of local metred taxis and working with licensed taxi drivers.
After its partnership in Oman, Careem is now the only ride-hailing app with operations across all six members of the GCC.
Last month, Careem partnered with online travel company Rehlat to provide services in the Middle East.
In the same month, Bloomberg reported, citing unnamed sources as saying that San Francisco-based rival Uber Technologies said it was in talks to acquire Careem for between $2 billion and $2.5 billion.
