Careem, the ride-hailing and internet platform in the Middle East and North Africa, announced yesterday a strategic partnership with Didi Chuxing, one of the world’s largest mobile transportation platform.

Powered by big data-driven AI technologies, Didi offers taxi, private car, and other mobility options to over 400 million users in 400 cities with a daily ride volume surpassing 20 million. Didi acquired Uber China in August 2016 for $35 billion.
Didi’s partnership with Careem marks the company’s first collaboration in the Middle East and North Africa and further aids Didi’s mission to transform transportation on a global scale.

As part of the partnership, Didi made an investment in Careem to strengthen its leading market position and further enhance its transportation offerings across the region. Together, the two parties will share knowledge in intelligent transportation technology, product development, and operations.

“Didi Chuxing brings leading edge AI capabilities, insight and expertise to our organization as we enter our next phase of growth,” said Mudassir Sheikha, CEO and cofounder of Careem. “This evolution in our long relationship will enable Careem to more effectively pursue growth opportunities through continued innovation and sustainability. Didi’s investment is yet another endorsement of the significant regional opportunity to leapfrog traditional infrastructure and improve the lives of people in our communities.”

“Growing urban populations and economic and social diversity in the MENA region present enormous opportunities for the ride-hailing economy,” said Cheng Wei, founder and CEO of Didi Chuxing.

There are currently over 250,000 drivers on Careem’s platform in more than 80 cities across 13 countries in the MENA, including Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt, Morocco, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, Jordan, Lebanon, and Palestine.