Are Bahrainis Using Careem & Uber in Bahrain? If Not, Then Who Is?

Ride sharing is eating up the world, changing the way we work, the way we travel, commute, and live. Uber is currently sitting on top of the most valued companies in the world. The concept of ride sharing through startups like Uber, Careem, Lyft is affecting the lives of people all around the world, positively and negatively too, as those startups expand into new markets.

Both Uber and Careem have launched in the Bahraini market some time ago, with Careem being the latest after Uber. But the question still remains, who is the Bahraini customer? Who uses these ride sharing services? We know that young adults use ride sharing services in the West predominantly. That is, young adults, commuting to work, going back home, or going out with friends.

We don’t believe this is the case here for the Bahraini individual or young adult. It seems like the Bahraini customer base is unique than that of the global customer segment. We’d even go as far as to say this could be the case overall in the GCC. In fact, there’s an increase in the number of car registration in Bahrain, where one would expect ride-sharing to take a small chunk of that market. Considering that we now live in a world where people in many cities are selling off their cars in favor of using ride-sharing services.

Ride sharing services are one of the fast growing transportation networks and startups around the world, by all measures, especially in the MENA region. Careem has six million customers and a network of 150,000 drivers as of yet. The Dubai-based service is now the number one option among Arabs for ride sharing. The US-based Uber has become the world’s taxi service as it serves over 400+ cities in 75+ countries through what is close to 15 million active monthly users (passengers), yes you read that right.

Both have changed cities dramatically and the nature of mobility. Who’s using it though? Let’s get to it:

  1. Women have become a major customer segment. Especially in countries where women are not allowed to drive, ride-sharing services have become an attractive option to move around. That’s one customer segment, women.
  2. Bahrain provides an attractive ecosystem for businesses, local and regional, that attract a large number expat workers. Ride-sharing services have proven to be an extremely attractive and feasible option for individuals who are not interested in purchasing a car or don’t drive much other than to and from work. That’s another, local expats.
  3. Careem has positioned itself in Bahrain as the official captain for corporate customers who frequent Bahrain on business trips from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Careem offers better prices to hot spots such as the Bahrain International Airport, Ritz Carlton, Seef Mall, and Gulf Hotel. And finally, that’s non-local business travelers.

So then, why don’t Bahrainis use ride-sharing services as much?

One idea we believe is that the majority of locals still hold onto the notion of owning a vehicle, one per individual, the idea goes. Perhaps that’s not their fault (yet) as ride-sharing hasn’t REALLY taken off in Bahrain and thus, not proving to be a viable and super attractive option. Owning a car allows you the flexibility of mobility that’s currently not offered by ride-sharing services available in Bahrain. For example, looking for an Uber that’ll take you from Riffa to the Airport? Good luck with that.

As those services are growing, their focus is currently on major cities. Though Bahrain is tiny, Uber and Careem hasn’t really ventured out into offering their service in cities other than the business hub(s), looking at you Riffa and Muharraq.

Do you think transportation services have a big potential for growth in Bahrain? We do.

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