The 100: Mudassir Sheikha, CEO, Careem

The 100: A Definite Guide to Success

BNC Publishing

You're reading Entrepreneur Middle East, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media.

Mudassir Sheikha holds a degree in Economics and Computer Science from the University of Southern California and a Master’s in Computer Science from Stanford University. His professional journey began at Trilogy Software, followed by a role at Brience, a mobile experience startup in San Francisco, in March 2000.

He later took on a leadership role at DeviceAnywhere, managing its offshore development center in Pakistan. After DeviceAnywhere was acquired by Keynote Systems, Sheikha joined McKinsey & Company in their Dubai office. Four years later, alongside his former McKinsey colleague Magnus Olsson, he co-founded a new venture to simplify life for people in the Middle East.

This vision became Careem, launched in 2012. Over the years, Careem grew into one of the region’s leading technology platforms, offering a wide range of services. In 2020, Uber acquired Careem for $3 billion. In Dubai, Careem provides services such as ride-hailing, food and grocery delivery, payments, micro-mobility, and more.

In April 2023, e& invested $400 million to become the majority shareholder in Careem’s super app, while Uber retained full ownership of Careem’s ride-hailing business. The super app now offers a variety of services, including food and grocery delivery, micro-mobility, home cleaning, car rental, and more. Its fintech arm, Careem Pay, provides services like peer-to-peer transfers, bill payments, digital wallets, and international remittances.

Through his leadership, Sheikha has helped Careem evolve into a pivotal technology platform, driving innovation and improving everyday life in the Middle East.

Related: The 100: A Definitive Guide to Success

Mudassir Sheikha holds a degree in Economics and Computer Science from the University of Southern California and a Master’s in Computer Science from Stanford University. His professional journey began at Trilogy Software, followed by a role at Brience, a mobile experience startup in San Francisco, in March 2000.

He later took on a leadership role at DeviceAnywhere, managing its offshore development center in Pakistan. After DeviceAnywhere was acquired by Keynote Systems, Sheikha joined McKinsey & Company in their Dubai office. Four years later, alongside his former McKinsey colleague Magnus Olsson, he co-founded a new venture to simplify life for people in the Middle East.

This vision became Careem, launched in 2012. Over the years, Careem grew into one of the region’s leading technology platforms, offering a wide range of services. In 2020, Uber acquired Careem for $3 billion. In Dubai, Careem provides services such as ride-hailing, food and grocery delivery, payments, micro-mobility, and more.

In April 2023, e& invested $400 million to become the majority shareholder in Careem’s super app, while Uber retained full ownership of Careem’s ride-hailing business. The super app now offers a variety of services, including food and grocery delivery, micro-mobility, home cleaning, car rental, and more. Its fintech arm, Careem Pay, provides services like peer-to-peer transfers, bill payments, digital wallets, and international remittances.

Through his leadership, Sheikha has helped Careem evolve into a pivotal technology platform, driving innovation and improving everyday life in the Middle East.

Related: The 100: A Definitive Guide to Success

Related Content

Leadership

AlDhabi AlMheiri Secures Top Youth Honor at Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Environmental Award

AlDhabi AlMheiri secured first place in the Youth Environmental Advocates category at the second edition of the Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Environmental Award, presented during an official ceremony held on February 3, 2026, at Qasr Al Nakheel in Abu Dhabi. The award ceremony was hosted by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler’s Representative […]
Leadership

Power, Legacy, Statehood: InterContinental Abu Dhabi and InterContinental Residences Abu Dhabi

Sayed Tayoun, Cluster General Managerof InterContinental Abu Dhabi and InterContinental Residences Abu Dhabi, on leading one of Abu Dhabi’s most historically powerful properties. Sayed Tayoun, Cluster General Manager of InterContinental Abu Dhabi and InterConti- nental Residences Abu Dhabi, is unfazed by the rapid expansion of Abu Dhabi’s hospitality market. With Abu Dhabi Tourism Strategy 2030 […]
Leadership

A CEO’s Approach To Resilient Growth: Wael Gad

Seasoned leaders often shift their focus from personal achievement to creating enduring impact. After years of building and guiding complex organizations, they begin to apply their accumulated experience toward strengthening systems and communities. Wael Gad exemplifies this evolution. With over 32 years of experience driving transformation across the energy, manufacturing, and technology sectors, Gad now […]