Remittances, grocery deliveries, and humanitarian fundraising defined how Careem’s user base moved through Ramadan 2026 — a Holy Month that unfolded against the backdrop of mounting regional tensions that tested both communities and commerce across the UAE.
Among the more telling data points: one customer sent 70 separate transfers to the Philippines over 21 days through Careem Pay, the app’s digital remittance service. Bangladesh recorded the steepest growth of any transfer corridor during the period, even as India held its position as the highest-volume destination. The fastest transfer of the month — to India — cleared in 12 seconds on February 28.
Careem Pay’s remittance activity climbed steadily as regional uncertainty deepened through March, a pattern the company says reflects the essential function cross-border transfers serve for families during periods of instability.
On the humanitarian front, Careem converted the Arabic dot in its logo into watermelon seeds for its Seeds for Gaza campaign, which directed customer activity toward Gaza relief efforts. The initiative drew 4,840 participants and raised more than AED 2.1 million, with 47,500 food orders across 429 merchants and 110 brands linked to the campaign.
Within Careem Quik, the grocery delivery vertical, Suhoor-hour orders at 4 am jumped 81% compared to the week preceding Ramadan, while Iftar-window orders between 5 and 6 pm rose by more than 33%. Bananas, bottled water, and cucumbers were the most frequently ordered grocery items. The fastest delivery of the month — a single packet of Doritos — was completed in under two minutes. Order volumes dipped mid-month as the regional environment weighed on consumer activity.
Careem Food’s busiest Iftar requests centered on lentil soup, burgers, and hummus. Zaatar w Zeit emerged as a favored restaurant among those breaking fast. The month’s largest single food order in Dubai originated from Sushi Buzz; in Abu Dhabi, it came from Pizza Di Rocco.
On the cycling side, three Careem Bike subscribers completed a ride every day of Ramadan, largely in JLT. The month’s longest trip covered 39.66 kilometers between Kite Beach and Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary.
Careem Plus members across the UAE collectively saved over AED 300 million during the month, with the platform’s most active subscriber accumulating AED 17,847 in savings. Food, Hala, and Quik were the top three services accessed by Plus members.
A tip-matching campaign running through Ramadan produced its own standout: a Dubai-based customer distributed AED 950 in Captain tips across nine separate rides — an average of roughly AED 107 per journey. Two other customers, tipping across ten and seven rides respectively, contributed a combined AED 885 in additional gratuities.
