Careem launches Super App.

Byline: Mutaher Khan

KARACHI -- Careem, the Dubai-headquartered ride-hailing company, launched its super app in a webinar on Monday.

The app, in addition to offering rides, will have a host of services across three areas: mobility of people, things and money. It will be rolled out entirely by the end of June and the exact services depend on the local market but range from deliveries to bike sharing.

According to a press release, the company has spent $50 million in developing the Super App which will merge all services offered, such as Careem NOW or Careem PAY, into a single application.

The super app concept is quite popular in China and Southeast Asia, including the likes of Wechat, Gojek and Grab, with many tech companies moving towards this model to boost their bottom lines.

'The move from offline to online commerce is a secular and significant opportunity, one that has accelerated as a result of the global pandemic. Careem's Super App supports this acceleration by bringing together people's essential, everyday services in one place, with a single sign-on and integrated payment system,' said the company's co-founder and Chief Executive Officer Mudassir Sheikha.

After the pandemic struck, the company laid off 31 per...