The announcement got here within the type of an electronic mail despatched to prospects in Qatar on Monday.
Trip-hailing service utility Careem has ceased operations in Qatar simply two months after the FIFA World Cup within the nation whereby its branded automobiles had been a part of the soccer event’s official plans to move visiting followers alongside Uber and native taxi and bus service supplier Karwa.
The announcement got here within the type of an electronic mail despatched to prospects in Qatar on Monday. The e-mail didn’t state the explanations behind its closure.
“It has been a pleasure to assist simplify your day. Sadly, Careem’s ride-hailing operations will not function in Qatar as of February 28, 2023,” learn the e-mail despatched out by the corporate.
Al Jazeera has reached out to Careem officers for a remark.
Along with ride-hailing companies in Qatar, Careem additionally provided grocery and meals supply companies. It additionally ran a spread of companies on its utility, together with digital funds and courier companies throughout different areas it served.
The Dubai-based firm was launched within the area in 2012, three years earlier than Uber.
In 2019, Uber introduced it was taking up Careem for $3.1bn, giving the US agency market dominance throughout the Center East and Pakistan.
Nonetheless, an Uber official instructed Al Jazeera that regulatory approvals for the acquisition weren’t granted in Qatar, and so the sale of Careem’s Qatari enterprise had not closed.
“Uber operations proceed enterprise as standard. [in Qatar after Careem’s announcement’,” Uber’s MENA Communications Manager Norhen Ali told Al Jazeera.
“Uber sought regulatory clearance from certain local competition authorities, including in Qatar, to acquire Careem in 2019. While regulatory approvals in other countries were obtained, unfortunately, this did not happen in Qatar.”
