Careem has rolled out Careem Food Catering, a new offering that connects customers in Dubai and Abu Dhabi with more than 20 of the UAE's top caterers through a single booking flow on the Careem app.
The launch arrives as the UAE settles into summer, when soaring temperatures push socialising indoors and homes become the default venue for gatherings. Family lunches, birthday parties, movie nights and office get-togethers all tend to pick up during this period, and Careem is positioning the new service as a way to simplify feeding larger groups.
The company says the move was driven by demand it observed on its own platform, including a steady rise in large group orders, catering requests from offices and repeated searches related to catering.
Unlike standard group orders built for same-day delivery, the new service relies on advance scheduling. Customers can book between 24 and 72 hours ahead depending on the caterer and can plan events up to 15 days out. Every partner on the platform offers menus tailored to groups ranging from 10 to 60 people, with minimum orders starting at AED 350.
Options include family-style shared plates, finger food for standing events and live cooking stations, with some caterers also offering waiter service.
Nourhan Farhat, VP of Marketplace Businesses at Careem, said catering has remained a largely offline experience despite the UAE being one of the most digitally engaged markets in the world, and that the company wants to change that by giving hosts easier access to trusted caterers.
Danish Irfan Gaya of Gazebo, one of the launch partners, said the partnership gives caterers direct access to customers across both emirates.
The rollout marks the first phase of a wider expansion, with Careem planning to add more caterers, introduce customised menus and extend the service to other Emirates in the coming months.
News Source: House of Comms
