Careem Pay Expands UAE Remittance Network to Türkiye and Saudi Arabia
Careem Pay has broadened its remittance service for United Arab Emirates residents by adding Türkiye and Saudi Arabia as new transfer destinations. The expansion allows users to send money directly to bank accounts in both countries through the Careem app.
With the latest additions, Careem Pay now supports more than 35 remittance corridors. Its network already includes major destinations such as India, Pakistan, Europe, the UK and Egypt, reflecting the platform’s wider push to serve the UAE’s international transfer market.
The company said transfers to both Türkiye and Saudi Arabia are deposited into recipients’ bank accounts within five to ten minutes. Careem Pay also set transaction limits for the new corridors, allowing up to AED150,000 for transfers to Türkiye and up to AED36,000 per transfer to Saudi Arabia.
Careem Plus members will receive zero fees and preferential exchange rates for international transfers, according to the company.
Different Transfer Needs in Each Market
Mohammad El Saadi, Vice President of Careem Pay, said the two corridors were “natural next steps” for the service, but noted that each market reflects different customer expectations. He said trust and secure money movement are especially important in Saudi Arabia, while Türkiye users have faced issues around slow transfers and uncertainty over when funds arrive.
“We’re solving that with funds arriving in under 10 minutes,” El Saadi said.
The company’s expansion into Saudi Arabia aligns with the country’s role as a major global remittance corridor. The source notes that government efforts under Vision 2030 have supported financial inclusion and increased the use of bank transfers.
Türkiye also remains an important remittance market, driven in part by an estimated 6.5 million Turkish citizens living abroad. The UAE is cited as a key source of higher-value transfers to Türkiye.
The new remittance corridors are accessible through the Pay function within the Careem app.
Industry Analysis
Careem Pay’s move highlights the continued demand for faster and more convenient cross-border payments in the UAE. By connecting to Türkiye and Saudi Arabia, the platform is targeting two markets with distinct remittance patterns, while reinforcing its positioning as a regional digital payments provider.
The expansion also reflects a broader fintech trend in the Middle East: users increasingly expect bank-to-bank transfers to be completed quickly, with transparent pricing and reliable delivery. As remittance services compete on speed, fees and corridor coverage, platforms that can offer near-instant settlements may strengthen their appeal among both expatriate senders and frequent international transfer users.
Featured image credit: Careem Pay press release
