Latest news with #Hala
Zawya
21 hours ago
- Business
- Zawya
Hala Taxi customers save AED 15mln on rides through Careem Plus subscription
Careem Plus members typically save over AED 300 per month, with active users saving over AED 1,000. Dubai, UAE – Hala, Dubai's most convenient e-hailing taxi solution and a joint venture between the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) and Careem, today announced that customers using Hala rides through the Careem Plus subscription programme have collectively saved around AED 15 million in just four years on Hala rides. The figures reflect growing consumer interest in value-led mobility solutions, driven by rising demand for cost efficiency and convenience in urban transport. Every month, thousands of Hala users subscribe to Careem Plus, typically saving more than 15 times the AED 19 subscription fee per month. Members receive 10% instant cashback on every Hala ride, credited directly to their Careem wallet, a feature that differentiates Careem Plus from other subscription programmes where cashback can take significantly longer to reflect, or may lack transparency. The average Hala rider subscribed to Careem Plus receives AED 40 back each month just on Hala trips, with total monthly savings across Careem's services averaging over AED 300. Commenting on the milestone, Khaled Nuseibeh, CEO of Hala, said: 'We are pleased to see such strong engagement with Careem Plus among Hala riders. The consistent growth in usage demonstrates that customers value the tangible savings and simplicity that the programme provides. As part of our commitment to supporting urban mobility in Dubai, we will continue to enhance the user experience through offerings that are accessible, practical, and genuinely rewarding.' Careem Plus, which is integrated into the broader Careem 'Everything App', provides members with exclusive benefits across multiple services for a monthly fee of AED 19. In addition to cashback on Hala and Careem Rides, members enjoy free delivery on food and grocery orders, exclusive rates on international money transfers, and discounts on dining bills, home cleaning, laundry, Careem Bike, and more. Active Careem Plus members typically save over AED 300 per month across the platform, with the most active users saving more than AED 1,000 monthly. The programme is designed to offer cross-category value while reinforcing Careem's position as the region's leading multi-service digital platform. As Dubai continues to prioritise innovation in transport and urban services, Hala and Careem remain aligned with the city's vision by delivering integrated, value-driven solutions that enhance the everyday lives of residents. About Hala Hala is Dubai's most convenient e-hailing taxi solution, easily booked through the Careem app. A joint venture between Careem and the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), Hala leverages Careem's ride-hailing technology and the local knowledge of the RTA to provide the most reliable and convenient rides across Dubai and Ras Al Khaimah. With a motivation to continuously elevate customer experience in public transportation, Hala has unlocked this incredible region by keeping Dubai connected and moving. Media Contact: Natasha Tourish at Q Communications Natasha.t@ About Careem Careem is building the Everything App for the greater Middle East, making it easier than ever to move around, order food and groceries, manage payments, and more. Careem is led by a powerful purpose to simplify and improve the lives of people and build an awesome organisation that inspires. Since 2012, Careem has created earning opportunities for over 3.5 million Captains, simplified the lives of over 75 million customers, and built a platform for the region's best talent to thrive and for entrepreneurs to scale their businesses. Careem operates in over 70 cities across 10 countries, from Morocco to Pakistan.
Time Out Dubai
6 days ago
- Business
- Time Out Dubai
Hala Taxi reveals Dubai customers saved Dhs15 million on rides with Careem Plus
With more than 115 million taxi trips taken last year across the emirate, it's fair to say that taxis are in high demand in Dubai. And since so many people are taking cabs, it's worth knowing how people can save any extra Dirhams when getting around the city. E-hailing service Hala has revealed that more than Dhs15 million has been saved on trips booked through the Careem Plus subscription programme in the last four years. Hala, a joint venture between the RTA and Careem, revealed the data ahead of the busy Eid Al Adha long weekend. Data revealed by the e-hailing service found that Dhs15 million has been saved in four years on Hala rides by subscribers. Careem Plus members pay Dhs19 per month to use the service but make that money back twice over on average with monthly savings of Dhs40. Subscribers get 10 percent instant cashback on every Hala ride credited directly to their in-app wallet. (Credit: Hala) Khaled Nuseibeh, CEO of Hala, says the rider savings are part of Hala's commitment to helping people get around Dubai. He said: 'We are pleased to see such strong engagement with Careem Plus among Hala riders. 'The consistent growth in usage demonstrates that customers value the tangible savings and simplicity that the programme provides. 'As part of our commitment to supporting urban mobility in Dubai, we will continue to enhance the user experience through offerings that are accessible, practical, and genuinely rewarding.' (Credit: Dubai Taxi Company) While the data relates to Careem Plus and Hala, there are several other e-hailing apps that allow Dubai residents to make big savings compared to on-street hailing. You may like: The cheapest and most convenient ride-hailing apps Bolt, in partnership with the Dubai Taxi Company, is offering 30 percent cash back on rides across more than 6,000 cabs in the city. Similarly, Yango is running a 30 percent off promotion in Dubai when you book a trip with them. And chauffeur company Blacklane is offering 25 percent off when booking your first ride throughout the summer. Where to go in that taxi… All the best new restaurants in Dubai right now Where everyone's eating (and talking about) right now Dubai's best happy hours every day Cheap drinks every night of the week? You've come to the right place 10 award-winning brunches in Dubai you need to try this year Because brunch is an institution
Arabian Business
02-06-2025
- Business
- Arabian Business
AB Majlis podcast: Hala Taxi app holds 37% of Dubai's e-hailing market despite new competition
Ride-hailing service Hala, a joint venture between Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) and Careem, now commands 37 per cent of Dubai's e-hailing market as it expands its green vehicle fleet amid rising competition, its CEO said. In an interview on the Arabian Business podcast AB Majlis, Hala CEO Khaled Nuseibeh revealed the company grew its customer base by 21 per cent year-on-year while increasing trips by 17 per cent, despite new market entrants like Yango and Bolt. 'Competition is always healthy for every industry. It forces players to compete. It forces players to come up with different ways to raise the bar and innovate,' Nuseibeh told the podcast. Launched in 2019, Hala was created to digitise Dubai's taxi service, transforming how residents and tourists book and use taxis in the emirate. Prior to Hala, customers had to either hail taxis on the street or call a booking service. The company has also improved its reliability by 11 percentage points while experiencing growth, a metric Nuseibeh highlighted as crucial to the service's success. 'It's beautiful when you're growing, and your customers are happy, and you're also improving on your reliability,' he said. 'Reliability… means people can depend on us. It means they can use us, and it means they can continuously count on Hala for their journeys.' Nuseibeh, who previously worked at Careem before and during its acquisition by Uber, attributed Hala's continued success to its deep understanding of the local market and close partnership with the RTA. 'We have a very deep understanding of the city. We've been in Dubai for a long time. We really understand our customer base, our captains, and we understand what it takes to actually solve for reliability and convenience,' he said. The company has recently diversified its offerings by introducing electric vehicles in high-demand areas like Dubai Marina and Palm Jumeirah at no additional cost to customers. Nuseibeh said the initiative has saved nearly 97 million grams of CO2 emissions since launch, equivalent to a car driving approximately 293,000 kilometres. 'We've seen that customers are quite generally happy,' Nuseibeh said regarding the EV rollout. 'As this technology matures, as you see more and more cars come into play, you will see more of these vehicles shift into becoming green vehicles.' He added that Hala will support the RTA's pledge to make 100 per cent of its vehicles eco-friendly by 2027. The company has also introduced new technologies to enhance customer experience, including WhatsApp booking capabilities aimed primarily at tourists who may not have the Careem app installed. 'We saw tourists actually want an easier way to book if they don't have the Careem map, which is like a stepping stone, you can just book a Hala immediately from your WhatsApp service,' he explained. When asked about potential future developments like flying or autonomous taxis, Nuseibeh said Hala would 'follow the lead of the RTA in any new technology that is regulated.' 'The most important thing for us is in adopting any new technology. We would always make sure that this technology has to be safe and efficient and caters to customer needs,' he added, suggesting autonomous vehicles would eventually work alongside human drivers during a transition period. Regarding brand recognition, Nuseibeh highlighted how 'Hala' has become synonymous with taxi booking in Dubai's vernacular, with residents commonly saying they will 'book a Hala' rather than a taxi. 'It seems we've done our work correctly. We've managed to really create that engagement with our customers,' he said. The company recently launched a marketing campaign called 'Real Icons of Dubai' celebrating the everyday users of the service, including working families, busy professionals, and tourists. To listen to the full episode and gain a comprehensive understanding of doing business in the Gulf region, visit our RSS feed or check out AB Majlis on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and other platforms. Episodes are also available on: Tune in every Monday for weekly episodes that will help you stay ahead of the curve and enrich your understanding of the Gulf region.
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Cross-cultural ceilidh marks world diversity day
Hala Ahmed only arrived in Londonderry five months ago from Sudan. She was one of the many who gathered at Cultúrlann Uí Chanáin in Derry for a cross-cultural ceilidh to mark world diversity day. And it lived up to its name with participants from as far away as Syria and Sudan, Ukraine and Yemen. The event was organised by the North West Migrants Forum in partnership with the theatre company, Sole Purpose Productions. Hala said the evening was important to her because it allowed people to learn more about different cultures. Proceedings kicked off with traditional Irish music along with a lesson in how to dance during a ceilidh. Then came musicians from Sudan, Syria and Turkey. People also brought traditional foods from their native countries. On the menu from Hala was a traditional sandwich from Sudan. It was a spicy chicken sandwich with a special type of hot sauce. "You can say it's unique because we made it from peanut butter, a green chilli and lemon and, of course, salt," she said. Another person who brought traditional food from his country was Syrian Mohamed Outabacci, who impressed with his take on baklava, a dessert dating back to the Ottoman empire. He has been living in Derry for six years with his family and said they were made to feel at home at the event. "As Syrian people, we lost our country and so to come to activities like this, to make friends and to have fun, it's important and good for us to be a part of this community as well." Event organiser Gaëlle Gormley said the aim was to "generate a bond between Northern Ireland's two traditional communities and those from overseas who have made it their home in more recent times". Clodagh Warnock enthralled the international audience with her fiddle during the ceilidh and said it was great to see people's faces when she started playing. "We were ripping into a couple of good, fast tunes, and you can see they were genuinely interested," she said. "Now we've just been listening to a bit of singing, which has been accompanied by drums, so it's very different, it's very, very diverse," she said. The evening was also a good opportunity for people to make new connections and friendships with others from different cultures and religions. This was one of the reasons Ahmed Alweasbi decided to go along. Ahmed came to Northern Ireland seven months ago as an asylum seeker from war-torn Yemen. "It's important for integration and they might help people in terms of diversity. So it's really helpful for people to join here," he said. Iryna Vorna, from Ukraine, has been living in Derry for two years and attended the event with her son Dmytro and mum, Liubov. "This is a new country for us and in our country we didn't see so many nationalities so this is good for our children but it's useful for everyone," she said. Pupils taste the world with diversity brunch Diversity parade 'shows east Belfast is a changed place'
The National
09-05-2025
- Politics
- The National
What losing my aunt to cancer taught me about grief
Hala is a Social Media Journalist and has experience covering Middle East politics, as part of her training on The National's 2024 graduate programme. May 09, 2025
