Hala Expands UAE Reach: Fujairah Taxis Join Careem’s Smart Mobility Network

Hala, the Dubai-born e-hailing taxi platform, has just rolled into Fujairah, teaming up with Fujairah Transport Corporation (FTC) to bring smart mobility to the eastern emirate. It’s the company’s third stop in the UAE after successful stints in Dubai and Ras Al Khaimah, and it’s certainly a step that consolidates its vision of a truly connected mobility network across the country.

The move comes after a trial run in Fujairah and Dibba, where traditional taxis were integrated into the Careem app. The results, apparently, were quite promising – more engaged drivers, smoother operations, and customers warming up to booking their rides with a tap instead of waving from the curb. I’ve seen similar transitions happen in other MENA cities before; there's always scepticism at first, but once convenience kicks in, adoption tends to snowball.

The official launch was signed off by Khaled Nuseibeh, Hala’s CEO, and Her Excellency Engineer Asayel Albalghoni, who heads the Fujairah Transport Corporation. Nuseibeh called the partnership an “important milestone,” emphasising that blending local know-how with digital innovation is the only way to build trust and reliability in transport. I reckon he’s spot on here—these things only work when tech and regulation move hand in hand, not in silos.

For Fujairah, this couldn’t have come at a better time. The emirate’s growing mix of residents, tourists and logistics traffic means there’s a real appetite for more streamlined transport. Albalghoni highlighted that while FTC has always put safety and comfort first, this tie-up marks a leap into the future—bringing AI-driven dispatch and cashless payments while keeping that essential human reliability that regular riders depend on.

From what we know, Hala’s Fujairah rollout will mirror the system that’s now practically part of daily life in Dubai: accurate ride tracking, transparent pricing, and those handy Captain ratings that make accountability a given. The company is also running special training sessions for drivers with FTC, ensuring they’re not just app-smart but service-savvy too.

When I heard someone in the Arageek community refer to this as “smart mobility made simple,” I couldn’t help but agree. Sure, managing such tech integrations across multiple emirates can be a bit of a faff, but the upside is huge. Imagine landing in Fujairah and being able to hail a regulated taxi from the same Careem app you use in Dubai—no confusion, no new downloads, no funny surprises with fares. It’s little conveniences like these that quietly redefine how we move around.

Since its launch in 2019, Hala’s impact on urban commutes has been undeniable. In Dubai, its average waiting time dropped to under four minutes, while trip numbers kept rising month after month. The fact that they’ve maintained a double-digit improvement in reliability speaks volumes. And now, with Fujairah on board, they’re inching closer to a national presence that fits neatly into the UAE’s larger smart city ambitions.

On the flip side, market competition is tough—ride-hailing isn’t a one-horse race anymore. But if Hala manages to keep both tech and local partnerships front and centre, it’s got a fair shot. I’m not usually one to gush over mobility apps, but I’ll be honest, seeing local transport authorities and startups pulling in the same direction does make me a tad chuffed. After all, that’s exactly the kind of collaboration that we at Arageek love to champion: smart ideas meeting regional ambition to create practical change.

So, as Fujairah’s yellow cabs start appearing on the Careem app, the journey toward unified, data-driven mobility across the Emirates seems a little more real—and definately a little more exciting.

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