Senior Manager of Public Policy & Government Affairs

Careem is building the Everything App for the greater Middle East - making it easy to move around, order food and groceries, manage payments, and more. Our purpose is simple: to simplify and improve people's lives and build an awesome organisation that inspires.

Since 2012, Careem has enabled earnings for over 2.5 million Captains, simplified the lives of more than 70 million customers, and built a platform where the region's best talent and entrepreneurs thrive. We operate in 70+ cities across 10 countries, from Morocco to Pakistan.

We're now entering our next chapter - one powered by AI. We're looking for AI talent: curious problem-solvers who know how to apply AI to build tools, automate workflows, and create real impact. Whether it's streamlining operations, enhancing customer experience, or reimagining internal systems - we want people who can make Careem work smarter and move faster.

About the Team

The Public Policy & Government Affairs team at Careem is at the forefront of shaping the regulatory landscape for the digital economy in the Middle East. We act as the bridge between Careem's innovative technologies and the governmental ecosystems in which we operate. Our team is dedicated to fostering collaborative relationships with regulators, policy-makers, and other concerned stakeholders to ensure that Careem's platform services can grow sustainably while delivering maximum value to our customers, and while leaving a positive impact on the community.

About the Role

As the Senior Manager, Public Policy & Government Affairs, you will be a leader within Careem Technologies, overseeing the public policy strategy for high-growth verticals including Pay, Food, and Quik, etc. Based in Dubai, you will navigate complex regulatory frameworks across multiple jurisdictions, ensuring that this multi-service platform continues to lead and to expand.

You are a strategic thinker who is plugged into industry trends and public sentiment. You will be responsible for translating business objectives into actionable policy positions and serving as a trusted advisor to both internal leadership and external government stakeholders.

What you'll do

• Strategy & Execution: Plan and execute comprehensive government relations, policy strategies, and corporate affairs campaigns across Careem Technologies' verticals (Pay, Food, Quik, etc.).
• Stakeholder Engagement: Engage at senior levels with a diverse set of government and non-government stakeholders to advocate for and implement win-win regulatory outcomes.
• Lead Interlocutor: Act as a primary interface for government interactions and represent the company with sector regulators, technology/investment entities, and key ministries.
• Risk & Prioritization: Prioritize public policy objectives, risks, and opportunities across Careem's markets and ensure the allocation of appropriate resources in line with these priorities.
• Strategic Partnerships: Identify and execute strategic partnerships (government and non-government) that deliver long-term value to Careem's technology ecosystem.
• Internal Advocacy: Drive internal communications and the creation of case studies or white papers to demonstrate the scope and impact of the function within the company.
• Trend Monitoring: Maintain an up-to-date mastery of industry trends and public knowledge to proactively manage the brand's regulatory reputation.

What you'll need

• Experience & Background: 8-10 years of progressive experience in the Middle East (predominantly UAE and Saudi Arabia) within a private company (policy/regulatory capacity), top-tier law firm, management consultancy, or a multilateral development organization.
• Language Mastery: Professional fluency in both Arabic and English is essential for this role.
• Analytical Ability: A high degree of rigor in developing quantitative and economic justifications to support Careem's policy positions.
• Advocacy Skills: Outstanding ability to build and communicate complex positions in a concise and compelling way to high-level officials.
• Stakeholder Management: Proven experience interacting with government stakeholders and managing public policy teams across multiple geographies.
• Cultural Alignment: A commitment to Careem's mission and alignment with its core values.

What we'll provide you

We offer colleagues the opportunity to drive impact in the region while they learn and grow. As a full time Careem colleague, you will be able to:

• Work and learn from great minds by joining a community of inspiring colleagues.
• Put your passion to work in a purposeful organisation dedicated to creating impact in a region with a lot of untapped potential.
• Explore new opportunities to learn and grow every day.
• Work 4 days a week in office & 1 day from home, and remotely from any country in the world for 30 days a year with unlimited vacation days per year. (If you are in an individual contributor role in tech, you will have 2 office days a week and 3 to work from home.)
• Access to healthcare benefits and fitness reimbursements for health activities including gym, health club, and training classes.