Karachi, Careem, a leading multi-service app in the region, has announced the expansion of its strategic partnership with Saudi Arabia Railways (SAR) to improve the transportation experience for railway passengers along the North and East lines in Saudi Arabia.

According to Careem, this partnership enhancement involves the establishment of new dedicated pick-up and drop-off areas at five additional train stations. These areas will be conveniently located by the main entrances and exits of the stations, aiming to streamline the travel process for intercity commuters using SAR services.

Ahmad Arrabi, Careem’s General Manager for ride-hailing in Saudi Arabia, expressed his enthusiasm for the ongoing collaboration with SAR. He emphasized Careem's commitment to providing convenient solutions for everyday commutes, highlighting that the designated Careem areas at the stations will significantly ease the process of booking rides to and from the stations.

Engineer Khaled Al Harbi, Senior Vice President (Passenger) at SAR, underscored SAR's dedication to offering exceptional services to commuters across the Kingdom. He mentioned various amenities provided by SAR, such as Private Sleeper Cabins on the Night Train service, and a focus on ensuring passenger comfort both onboard and within station premises.

The partnership, which began in September 2021 with Phase 1, initially included Careem services at SAR’s North Train stations in Riyadh and Qassim, and the Eastern Train stations in Riyadh, Dammam, and Hofuf. Phase 2 extends Careem’s reach to include stations in Al-Majmaah, Hail, Jauf, and Qurayyat on the North line, and Abqaiq on the East line.

SAR's impressive growth, transporting over 4.4 million commuters across its railway lines in the first half of 2023—an 84% increase from the previous year—highlighted the rising preference for railway transportation among domestic travelers in Saudi Arabia. This trend played a significant role in Careem’s decision to broaden the partnership to cover all SAR stations, emphasizing the need for efficient transportation options for commuters.

Since launching in Saudi Arabia in 2013, Careem has expanded to 26 cities across the Kingdom, facilitating over 10 million customers with services such as ride-hailing, bike sharing, and food delivery. Over 70,000 Saudi nationals currently benefit from the economic opportunities provided by the Careem app.