DUBAI – The Dubai-based super-app company Careem has carried out a new round of layoffs impacting employees’jobs across multiple international locations, including Pakistan, as part of an ongoing global restructuring process.
The reports shared by affected employees on social media platforms unveiled that the latest job cuts have impacted development teams and other operational departments.
The layoffs followed the closure of Careem’s Berlin office and several other international sites, signaling a broader consolidation of the company’s global workforce.
Sources indicate that the restructuring has also affected technology teams in Pakistan, where Careem continues to maintain engineering and operational functions under its Careem Technologies division. The company is estimated to employ around 400 staff in Pakistan across various roles.
The recent downsizing comes after Careem exited Pakistan’s ride-hailing market in July 2025, ending nearly a decade of operations.
At the time, the company cited macroeconomic challenges, rising competition, and global capital allocation priorities as key reasons for its withdrawal from the sector, while retaining its technology hub in the country.
Industry observers believe the latest layoffs reflect continued cost-cutting pressure and efforts to streamline global operations.
Some analysts have also linked the move to broader regional economic uncertainty affecting business confidence in parts of the Middle East.
Careem has previously undertaken major workforce reductions. In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the company laid off more than 500 employees—around 31% of its global workforce—after a sharp decline in business activity.
That decision was widely seen as a turning point in the company’s operational strategy.
Once regarded as one of the region’s leading tech success stories following its multibillion-dollar acquisition, Careem played a significant role in positioning Pakistan as an emerging hub for software engineering talent.
However, recent restructuring efforts have raised concerns about job stability in the country’s technology sector.
The latest layoffs come at a challenging time for Pakistani tech professionals, as several startups and mobility companies in recent years have either shut down or significantly reduced operations amid funding constraints and shifting market conditions.
