Ride-hailing and delivery company Careem is making bold moves to electrify its fleet in the UAE, tackling carbon emissions from urban transport. In Dubai, Careem introduced the city’s first electric motorbike fleet for deliveries, supported by an expansive charging infrastructure at Careem Bike stations.
Up to 1,000 electric delivery motorcycles are planned to be deployed by the end of 2024, available to Careem’s delivery couriers (called “Captains”) via a rental subscription model. These e-bikes are powered by swappable 4,000-watt lithium battery packs and can charge at over 192 Careem Bike stations across Dubai.
Each bike can carry two batteries (2,000 W each), allowing quick swaps to minimise downtime. The electric bikes boast a top speed of 80 km/h and are designed to be safer, quieter, and more cost-efficient than traditional petrol bikes.
Careem estimates that this electric fleet cuts the carbon footprint of delivery trips by up to 24 tonnes of CO₂ per day – a dramatic reduction in emissions for the growing food and parcel delivery sector. For the couriers, the switch to electric offers up to 50% cost savings on fuel/operating costs under Careem’s subscription, enhancing their earnings while also benefiting the environment.
Following the successful Dubai rollout, Careem has been extending its electric delivery bikes to Abu Dhabi and beyond. By early 2024, the company signalled plans to introduce the electric motorbike programme in Abu Dhabi, leveraging lessons learnt in Dubai to scale up sustainably. The UAE’s infrastructure is increasingly e-mobility-friendly – Dubai’s existing Careem Bike network (for bicycle sharing) and government support for EVs have provided a backbone for charging these motorbikes.
The 192+ charging/docking stations double as hubs where riders can quickly swap depleted batteries for fresh ones, enabling continuous operation. This innovative approach – battery swapping instead of long plug-in charging – significantly reduces downtime and was key to making electric two-wheelers viable for high-frequency delivery work.
Careem co-founder and CEO Mudassir Sheikha noted that customers can now get their food and groceries delivered with a “low carbon footprint,” highlighting that the initiative aligns with Dubai’s sustainability vision.
The company’s broader commitment is evident: in 2023, over half of all Careem rides in the UAE were already completed in hybrid or electric vehicles, indicating a significant shift toward greener mobility on the platform.
Eco-Friendly Ride Option And Mangrove Offsetting
In addition to electrifying deliveries, Careem has launched a unique “Eco-friendly” ride option for passengers that focuses on carbon offsetting. Debuted during COP28 (hosted by the UAE in late 2023), the Eco-friendly car type was created in partnership with CarbonSifr, a regional climate-tech company.
When a user books an Eco-friendly ride in the Careem app, a small extra fee or contribution is directed towards verified carbon removal projects, effectively offsetting the emissions of that trip. In its first few months in Dubai, this feature proved popular: by April 2024, Careem announced that over 200,000 kg (200 tonnes) of CO₂-equivalent had been offset through Eco-friendly rides in under three months.
To put that in perspective, 200 tonnes of CO₂e is roughly the emissions from driving around the Earth’s equator 40 times in a typical car. This strong response shows many riders are willing to pay a little extra for a greener commute, especially when they know the impact. On Earth Day 2024 (April 22), Careem and CarbonSifr expanded the Eco-friendly ride option to Abu Dhabi after its Dubai success, allowing residents of the capital to similarly contribute to carbon reduction with each ride.
Crucially, the funds from Eco-friendly rides go into high-integrity, nature-based projects in the UAE, notably mangrove planting efforts and other local carbon sequestration initiatives. Mangroves are a perfect fit for the region – these salt-tolerant trees are “blue carbon” powerhouses that capture CO₂ and also protect coastlines.
The UAE has its own ambitious goal to plant 100 million mangroves by 2030 as part of its climate strategy. Careem’s offsets contribute to this national target. By partnering with CarbonSifr, which vets and implements the offset projects, Careem ensures that each Eco-friendly trip’s contribution is transparently translated into climate action (such as a certain number of mangrove saplings planted or maintained).
The success of the programme reflects a growing consumer awareness in the UAE: riders increasingly seek sustainable choices in their daily lives, and companies like Careem are responding with innovation. As Careem’s UAE General Manager, Antonio Al Asmar, noted, this initiative shows that “customers have shown a remarkable willingness to play their part” when given an easy option to do so. The eco-friendly ride option thus harnesses individual actions at scale – every commute becomes an opportunity to invest in the environment.
Planting Mangroves Via Mastercard Incentives
Careem’s eco-mobility push isn’t limited to rides and bikes – it also extends into fintech territory through Careem Pay, the company’s digital wallet. In late 2023, Careem partnered with Mastercard and Emirates Nature–WWF on a campaign to support mangrove reforestation in the UAE.
The mechanism is simple but impactful: for every Careem Pay wallet top-up made with a Mastercard debit card, one mangrove tree is planted in the UAE. This initiative is part of Mastercard’s global Priceless Planet Coalition, which aims to restore 100 million trees worldwide, and it leverages Careem’s platform to involve everyday users in that mission.
When customers add credit to their Careem app wallet using Mastercard, they not only gain a spending balance but also automatically trigger a mangrove planting, at no extra cost to them. Emirates Nature–WWF, the local partner for the coalition, ensures the trees are planted and nurtured in UAE coastal areas, contributing to the country’s climate and biodiversity goals.
The campaign launched just ahead of COP28 and was positioned as a timely contribution to the UAE’s “Year of Sustainability.” It aligns with the UAE’s pledge to achieve net zero emissions by 2050 and specifically supports the national initiative to plant millions of mangroves this decade.
Careem’s CEO Mudassir Sheikha noted that enabling mangrove planting helps the company offset its own carbon footprint and meet its emission reduction commitments, while also engaging customers in a net-zero vision. From Mastercard’s perspective, the partnership encourages eco-friendly consumer behaviour. It gives people a tangible reward (a tree planted) for choosing digital payments through Mastercard on the Careem app.
“This initiative supports the UAE’s mangrove targets while raising awareness about the crucial role mangroves play,” said Amnah Ajmal, Mastercard’s EEMEA Executive VP for Market Development.
By the end of the promotion’s run, thousands of mangrove saplings had been sponsored through Careem wallet top-ups, and the programme was lauded as a creative fusion of fintech and environmental stewardship. It shows how even a routine action – topping up a wallet – can be leveraged for climate action with the right partnerships in place.
Careem’s electric and eco-mobility drive illustrates how innovation can marry convenience with conscience. The “Everything App” has evolved to not just move people and goods but also move the needle on environmental progress. As Careem continues to expand its programmes, with more electric vehicles, more green ride options, and more trees planted, it is helping to cultivate a culture of sustainability in daily life.
The ripple effects are powerful. Fewer tailpipe emissions in our neighbourhoods, greater awareness of carbon footprints, and community involvement in fighting climate change, one ride or delivery at a time.
By proving that green business models can work in the Middle East, Careem is contributing to a future where economic growth and ecological well-being go hand in hand. These efforts complement the UAE’s vision of a smart, sustainable nation and demonstrate how local innovation can address global challenges, inspiring other emerging markets to follow suit in the journey toward net zero.
Image Credits: Careem