Careem

Careem, also known as Careem Networks, is a technology company headquartered in the United Arab Emirates that provides a ride‑hailing platform linking passengers with drivers via a mobile application. The service enables users to request cars, motorbikes, and other vehicles for point‑to‑point travel within urban environments. Founded in 2012, Careem has grown to become one of the most recognizable mobility brands in the Middle East and surrounding regions. Its core offering focuses on delivering convenient, on‑demand transportation options for both individual commuters and corporate clients. The company’s platform integrates real‑time tracking, cashless payment options, and driver‑partner management tools.

Prior to 2018, Careem reported that its network extended to approximately 78 cities across the countries where it operated. At that time the platform served roughly 14 million active customer accounts and had more than 558,000 registered drivers using the service. These figures illustrate the considerable scale of Careem’s operations and its substantial footprint in the transportation sector of the region. The breadth of its city coverage allowed the company to address diverse mobility needs ranging from densely populated metropolitan areas to smaller urban centers. Such reach positioned Careem as a key player in the regional ride‑hailing market, facilitating millions of trips each month.

In January 2018, Careem disclosed a cyber security incident in which unauthorized actors gained access to a system storing account information, resulting in the exposure of names, email addresses, phone numbers, and trip data for customers and drivers. The breach did not compromise passwords or credit‑card details, as those were stored externally and remained unaffected. Careem stated that only accounts active before the discovery of the incident were impacted, while newer registrants were not affected by the exposure. Following public acknowledgment of the attack during a strategic funding initiative, the company emphasized that it had undertaken organizational improvements to strengthen data protection and system resilience. The episode underscored the challenges faced by fast‑growing digital platforms in safeguarding user information while expanding their services across multiple jurisdictions.