Dubai
Careem yesterday (Monday) launched its “UNHCR” car in Dubai, conceived in partnership with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, to allow passengers to donate and support refugees and displaced persons in the Mena region. The initiative was created in line with the UAE’s #Year of Giving, launched by President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
While on their daily commute, Dubai residents can now donate funds to provide aid and assistance to refugees, simply by selecting the UNHCR car option when booking through the Careem ride-hailing app, where a Dh3 donation will be added to each economy fare rate trip for Dubai. All proceeds raised in the initiative will be sent to the UNHCR to assist with the organisation’s refugee aid programmes.
“Our partnership with UNHCR is indicative of what we stand for,” said Mudassir Shaikha, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Careem. “As a company from the Mena region, dedicated to simplifying the lives of those within the region, we are fully focused on supporting all communities in the Middle East, and that must include the millions of refugees struggling to re-establish their lives.”
Shaikha added, “Our goal is to build an institution that inspires, that means we take our role as responsible community player very seriously. Deeply inspired by the UAE Year of Giving initiative, we felt compelled to act and we are immensely proud to be working with UNHCR to enable access to more donation opportunities that will make a real difference to refugees.”
Commenting on the partnership, Toby Harward, Head of UNHCR UAE, said, “With more than 16.7 million refugees and internally displaced persons in the Middle East and North Africa region, there is a big need for new advocacy and funding initiatives in the region, including with the private sector. UNHCR places great importance on seeking creative new approaches for the good of refugees. Our partnership with Careem perfectly reflects this spirit of innovation, and we are really excited by this initiative.”
Following the launch of the initiative in Dubai, Careem and UNHCR are collaborating closely with the aim of expanding the donation opportunity throughout the region to enable more of its users across the Middle East to support refugees. UNHCR cars are expected to come online in Egypt, Qatar and Saudi Arabia ahead of the first day of Ramadan.
