Careem, Uber’s Middle East business, will cease operations in Qatar on Tuesday, the company said in a message sent to customers in the Gulf Arab state on Monday.
The surprise announcement comes two months following the World Cup in Qatar, where Careem-branded vehicles were part of the tournament’s official plans to transport visiting fans, alongside cars from Uber and local taxi provider Karwa.
“Unfortunately, Careem carpooling operations will no longer operate in Qatar from February 28, 2023,” the post reads, which also advises customers with Careem credit that the company will issue a full refund by March 15.
Careem’s post did not offer an explanation as to why it ceased operations. Careem did not immediately respond to Archyde.com’ request for comment.
Careem was acquired by Uber Technologies Inc in 2019 for $3.1 billion, giving the US company market dominance across the Middle East and Pakistan.
Careem only offered ridesharing services in Qatar, unlike larger Middle Eastern markets like the United Arab Emirates, where the company offered a more robust slate of services on its app, including food delivery, digital payments and courier services.
Uber’s smartphone app offers ride-sharing services in Qatar and continued to operate as normal on Monday evening.
