Careem Launches Food Catering Service Across Dubai and Abu Dhabi

Careem, the Middle East's leading Everything App, has introduced Careem Food Catering, a new marketplace connecting customers in Dubai and Abu Dhabi with more than 20 professional catering providers through the Careem app.

The launch comes during the UAE's peak indoor entertaining season, when rising summer temperatures drive families, friends, and businesses to host gatherings at home and in offices. From birthday celebrations and weekend family lunches to corporate meetings and game nights, Careem aims to simplify catering through a fully digital booking experience.

The move also strengthens Careem's growing marketplace ecosystem, complementing its existing ride-hailing, grocery, food delivery, and fintech services.

What Market Demand Is Driving Careem Food Catering?

According to Careem, internal platform data from 2026 showed a sustained increase in:

• Large group food orders
• Office catering requests
• Catering-related searches
• Repeat bulk food purchases

These behavioural trends highlighted a gap in the UAE market, where catering has traditionally relied on offline bookings despite the country having one of the region's highest digital adoption rates.

The UAE's online food delivery sector has expanded rapidly alongside increasing digital commerce, creating favourable conditions for app-based catering services that combine discovery, scheduling, and payment into one platform.

How Does Careem Food Catering Work?

Unlike traditional food delivery, Careem Food Catering is designed specifically for planned events rather than immediate meals.

Feature	Details
Available Cities	Dubai and Abu Dhabi
Catering Partners	20+ professional caterers
Booking Window	24–72 hours in advance (depending on caterer)
Maximum Advance Booking	Up to 15 days
Group Size	Approximately 10–60 guests
Starting Order Value	AED 350
Booking Platform	Careem App

Customers can browse dedicated catering menus designed for larger gatherings instead of assembling multiple individual food orders.

What Catering Options Are Available?

The service is designed around different hosting occasions, giving customers flexibility depending on the event.

Available options include:

• Family-style sharing platters
• Finger foods for receptions and networking events
• Office catering packages
• Live cooking stations
• Food carts
• Waiter service from selected catering partners

This allows hosts to customise both food and service while managing the booking entirely within the Careem app.

What Does Careem Say About the Launch?

Nourhan Farhat, Vice President of Marketplace Businesses at Careem, said the company wants to make catering as convenient as ordering everyday meals.

She noted that while the UAE is one of the world's most digitally connected consumer markets, catering has remained largely offline. By integrating professional caterers into the Careem ecosystem, customers can discover, compare, schedule, and book catering through one trusted platform.

Danish Irfan Gaya, Director of Gazebo, said the partnership enables caterers to reach more customers across Dubai and Abu Dhabi while allowing restaurant partners to focus on delivering high-quality catering experiences.

What Does This Mean for the UAE FoodTech Ecosystem?

Careem's latest expansion reflects a broader shift across the UAE's digital economy, where super apps are increasingly consolidating multiple consumer services into a single platform.

The launch also supports the country's wider digital transformation agenda, alongside innovation ecosystems such as ADGM, Hub71, Dubai Future Foundation, and Dubai Chamber of Digital Economy, which continue to accelerate technology adoption across sectors. While NEOM is based in Saudi Arabia, similar marketplace innovations across the GCC highlight the region's growing investment in digital consumer services.

As catering transitions from manual bookings to app-based marketplaces, businesses gain greater customer reach while consumers benefit from transparent pricing, simplified scheduling, and more consistent service experiences.

What's Next for Careem Food Catering?

This rollout represents the first phase of Careem's catering strategy.

The company plans to:

• Add more catering partners across the UAE
• Introduce menu personalisation features
• Expand the service beyond Dubai and Abu Dhabi into additional Emirates

The expansion aligns with Careem's broader strategy of becoming the region's preferred platform for everyday services.

Careem Food Catering is now available through the Careem app in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

 

 

 

FAQs

1. What is Careem Food Catering?
Careem Food Catering is a new service within the Careem app that allows customers in Dubai and Abu Dhabi to book catering from more than 20 professional catering providers for private and corporate events.

2. How far in advance can customers book catering?
Customers can schedule catering between 24 and 72 hours in advance, depending on the catering partner, with bookings available for events up to 15 days ahead.

3. What is the minimum order value?
The minimum catering order starts from AED 350, although pricing may vary depending on the selected caterer and menu.

4. Which cities currently support Careem Food Catering?
The service is currently available in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, with expansion to additional Emirates planned in future rollout phases.

5. What types of events is Careem Food Catering designed for?
The platform supports family gatherings, birthday celebrations, office meetings, corporate events, receptions, movie nights, game nights, and other group occasions typically serving between 10 and 60 guests.