Careem’s newly launched Udhiya meat delivery service for Eid Al Adha has received “hundreds” of preorders within just days since its launch, as the region’s “super app” taps into rising demand for on-demand religious and cultural services.
The ride-hailing giant’s move to offer pre-ordered sacrificial meat through its app reflects its ambition to become an “everything app” that simplifies traditional tasks and cultural practices for customers, Chase Lario, Head of Groceries at Careem, exclusively told Arabian Business.
Lario revealed that the company has been inundated with orders since launching the Udhiya service just days ago in partnership with an approved local provider, Dhabayeh Al Emarat.
“It’s clear that customers have been waiting for an easy way to order their Udhiya meat, and we’re pleased to have inspired others to follow suit with similar offerings,” he said.
Rather than delivering live animals, the service allows customers to pre-order their preferred cuts of locally sourced goats and sheep, like Naimi and Najdi varieties, all over six months old as per Islamic guidelines. The sacrificial meat is then delivered on the customer’s chosen day within the first three days of Eid.
The Udhiya offering is the latest example of Careem’s efforts to expand its services beyond ride-hailing as it evolves into a comprehensive “super app” for the region.
“As the region’s Everything App, our goal is to simplify life and empower our customers to handle any task, big or small, including significant cultural traditions like securing Udhiya meat for Eid,” Lario said.
Mudassir Sheikha, co-founder and CEO of Careem, highlighted the company’s mission to cater to customers’ diverse needs around major cultural events like Eid.
“Our purpose is to simplify people’s lives, and we’re excited to introduce so many convenient and affordable solutions during one of the busiest times of the year,” he said.
In addition to Udhiya, Careem has rolled out initiatives like donation drives, Eid meal deals, and dining discounts to make this Eid more seamless for customers. “Whether you wish to donate to your community, prepare for celebrations at home, dine out, or travel – Careem is here to make your Eid celebrations more seamless than ever,” Sheikha added.
Pioneering Udhiya service
Careem rolled out the service earlier this week, causing a massive stir across the country as it became the first to make Udhiya meat available on grocery delivery apps in the country. e-commerce giant noon also followed suit with its own version of the service.
With prices ranging from AED400 to AED2,150, both delivery apps offer a variety of options for goats and sheep of various sizes.
Over the past few years, Careem has diversified its offerings to include everything from car and bike rentals to food delivery and home cleaning.
Looking ahead, Lario hinted that more unique service expansions could be on the horizon as Careem continues to tap into verticals like food, groceries, and fintech. “Our focus for 2024 is to expand our services including Careem Food, Careem Quik, Careem Pay and Careem DineOut in our markets…You never know when we’ll identify an exciting new opportunity to simplify our customers’ lives.”
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