How to Get Careem Plus for Free in the UAE

Paying for Careem Plus is optional. For a lot of people in the UAE, it genuinely doesn’t have to cost a thing.

Careem Plus costs AED 19 per month, which is the listed price. But between bank partnerships, telecom promotions, and government benefit programmes, there are multiple legitimate routes to get it for free. According to The Fintech Times, Careem Plus members saved an average of AED 375 per month in 2025,  a 25% jump from the year before. That means getting a Careem Plus membership makes sense if you use the app regularly for rides, food, and grocery delivery.

This post covers every verified method to get Careem Plus free in the UAE, including bank credit cards, telecom plans, government benefit cards, and more.

What You’re Actually Getting with Careem Plus

Before the tips, here’s why it’s worth chasing the free version at all.

With Careem Plus, you get 10% back on 10 rides every month, unlimited free delivery on food and groceries, member-only discounts, exclusive rates on international money transfers, Buy 1 Get 1 deals across thousands of restaurants via DineOut, 10% off home services, and priority support.

Careem Plus is one of the best money-saving apps in the UAE. The savings can add up even faster for anyone using Careem more than a few times a week.

Quick-Reference Table: Free Careem Plus Offers in the UAE 

Provider	Duration	Who Qualifies	Expiry / Status
HSBC Credit Cards	12 months	Holders of eligible HSBC cards	Valid until 31 Dec 2026
FAB Visa Credit Cards	3 months	FAB SHARE, Blue & Etihad Guest Visa cardholders	Valid until 31 Jul 2026 or until stock lasts
RAKBANK World Credit Card	12 months (annual)	RAKBANK World Credit Cardholders	Ongoing cardholder benefit
e& (Etisalat) Emirati Freedom Plans	3 months	New activations/port-ins on eligible Emirati Freedom plans	Limited-time promotion
Fazaa Card	90 days	Government employees, semi-government staff, UAE nationals in the private sector, and frontline workers	Code: FAZAACPLUS. Offer valid until 16 April 2027
Careem App (In-App Offers)	Varies	All users	Check the Offers tab regularly

6 Ways to Get Careem Plus Free in the UAE

1. HSBC Credit Cards  (12 Months Free)

This is the most valuable free Careem Plus offer available right now, and it’s still live.

HSBC and Careem have a partnership that gives eligible HSBC credit cardholders 12 months of Careem Plus completely free. The offer is valid until 31 December 2026, and each eligible card can only be used once to redeem it. Eligible cards include the HSBC Black Credit Card, Premier Credit Card, Advance Credit Card, Platinum Credit Card, HSBC Cash+, Max Rewards, Platinum Select, Cashback card, Skywards Visa Infinite, and the Visa Signature card.

How to get it: Simply add your eligible HSBC credit card to the Careem app. The subscription should activate automatically. If you run into any issues, the Careem Plus Help Centre inside the app is your first port of call.

Conditions to know: Each user can only redeem the offer once during the promotion period. This is a one-time activation per card. It won’t renew for free after the 12 months end.

2. FAB Visa Credit Cards (3 Months Free)

First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB) has a current offer running with Careem that covers three months of Careem Plus for select Visa cardholders.

The FAB offer gives cardholders a complimentary 3-month Careem Plus membership when they pay with an eligible FAB Visa Credit Card. This offer is valid until 31 July 2026, or until stocks last. Eligible cards include FAB SHARE Infinite, Signature, and Platinum Credit Cards; the Blue FAB Platinum, Signature, and Infinite Credit Cards by Al-Futtaim; and the Etihad Guest Platinum, Signature, and Infinite Credit Cards.

How to get it: Add your eligible FAB Visa Credit Card to your Careem app account. The membership should activate within the app automatically.

Conditions to know: Check your specific card against the eligible list before expecting activation. The FAB SHARE and Etihad Guest cards are the most widely held, so most FAB Visa customers should qualify.

3. RAKBANK World Credit Card (Annual Membership Included)

If you hold a RAKBANK World Credit Card, Careem Plus isn’t an add-on; it’s built into the card.

RAKBANK World Credit Cardholders get a complimentary Careem Plus annual membership as a standard cardholder benefit. Benefits include 10% back on rides, unlimited free delivery on Careem Food, free delivery and member-only discounts on Careem Quik, Buy 1 Get 1 deals on DineOut, 30% off unlimited daily e-bike passes, and 10% off home cleaning, laundry, salon, and spa services.

How to get it: Use the activation link on the RAKBANK Careem Plus page, or go through the Careem app’s subscription section and link your RAKBANK World Credit Card to trigger the offer.

Conditions to know: This is a card benefit, not a time-limited promotion. It runs as long as you hold the card.

4. e& (Etisalat) Emirati Freedom Plans (3 Months Free)

If you’re a UAE national on an Emirati Freedom plan through e& (formerly Etisalat), Careem Plus can be part of a broader “choose your gift” promotion.

As part of e&’s “Choose Your Own Gift” promotion on selected Emirati Freedom plans, eligible customers can select a free 3-month Careem Plus subscription as their gift. The plans that include this option are Emirati Freedom 250/275, 400/450, and 750/850. Eligible activations include new subscriptions, prepaid customers switching to postpaid, mobile number port-ins, and postpaid plan upgrades.

How to get it: After activating an eligible Emirati Freedom plan, you’ll receive an SMS with a link to the e& UAE app. Sign in within the specified window and select the Careem Plus 3-month subscription as your gift.

Conditions to know: You can only choose one gift per subscription. Careem Plus competes with data bonuses and free minutes, so factor in whether 3 months of Plus is worth more to you than, say, double data or bonus flexi minutes. If you or someone else just activated an eligible plan, do not wait. Open the e& UAE app immediately to claim the gift before the deadline expires.

5. Fazaa Card (90 Days Free)

Fazaa is a UAE government-backed discount programme covering government employees, semi-government staff, frontline workers, and UAE nationals working in the private sector. If you’re a member, Careem Plus can be unlocked for 90 days using a dedicated code.

Fazaa members can claim a 90-day free Careem Plus trial using the promo code FAZAACPLUS.

How to get it: Open the Careem app, go to the Careem Plus subscription page, and enter the code FAZAACPLUS at the activation screen. Your 90-day trial should start immediately.

Conditions to know: You need to be a Fazaa cardholder to legitimately access this benefit. As of 2026, resident families in the UAE with at least one child can also apply for a free Fazaa membership through the “Year of the Family 2026” initiative, valid until the end of 2026. If you don’t currently have a Fazaa card, this initiative has made it significantly more accessible this year — check fazaa.ae to apply.

6. In-App Offers and Seasonal Promotions

Careem periodically offers free or discounted Plus trials directly through the app, especially around major UAE events and seasonal campaigns.

Careem regularly runs time-limited seasonal promotions across its ride, food, and subscription categories, including during Ramadan, Dubai Shopping Festival, UAE National Day, and back-to-school periods.

How to get it: Open the Careem app and check the Offers tab regularly. These promotions are not always announced publicly. They’re often pushed as in-app notifications or banners on the home screen.

Conditions to know: Seasonal trials are typically available to new Plus subscribers only and may last 7 to 30 days. They’re not a long-term solution, but they’re a useful way to test Plus before committing or to bridge the gap between a lapsed partnership benefit and the next one.

Additional Tips to Save on Careem Without Plus

Already have Plus? Or waiting for your bank offer to activate? Here are other practical ways to keep Careem costs down.

• Use promo codes for specific services. GrabOn UAE maintains a verified list of active Careem promo codes, including discounts on bike passes, food orders, and ride bookings updated regularly.
• Bank card discounts for food orders. Even without Plus, some bank cards offer recurring Careem food discounts. ADCB cardholders can use ADCB20 for 20% off food, and FAB Mastercard users have a standing code for 25% off food and groceries (up to AED 50) usable twice a month. Combining these codes with a strict meal budget can be an excellent hack. For further savings, you can check our grocery money-saving guide for the UAE to cut back on everyday costs.
• Referral credits. Open the Careem app and go to the “Get Free Rides” section. Share your referral link. When a new user completes their first ride, both you and they typically receive AED 10–20 in Careem credit. It accumulates quickly if you share it actively.
• Member Mondays. If you do have Plus, always check the food section on Monday mornings. Every Monday, Careem Plus subscribers get exclusive Buy 1 Get 1 or deep-discount deals from popular food brands. It’s a recurring benefit that’s easy to miss if you don’t make a habit of checking.
• DineOut without Plus. DineOut deals are available to all Careem users, not just Plus members. The discounts are deeper with Plus, but even without a subscription, you can access Buy 1 Get 1 offers and flat percentage deals at hundreds of restaurants.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I stack a bank offer for Careem Plus with another promo code?

No. Bank partnership offers (HSBC, FAB, RAKBANK) activate the Careem Plus subscription itself. They cannot be combined with promo codes for the Plus subscription. Promo codes for rides, food, or DineOut are separate and can still be used once your Plus membership is active.

I added my eligible bank card, but Careem Plus didn’t activate. What should I do?

Give it a few minutes after adding the card. If it still hasn’t activated, go to your Careem app, tap Profile → Help → Careem Plus, and raise a ticket. Include the card type and the bank. Response times through the help centre are generally within a few hours.

Does the HSBC 12-month offer automatically renew for free?

No. The free period lasts exactly 12 months. After that, Careem Plus reverts to the standard AED 19/month charge unless you cancel. Set a calendar reminder before your 12-month period ends if you don’t want to be billed.

I’m on a standard e& postpaid plan, not an Emirati Freedom plan. Can I still get the Careem offer?

The “Choose Your Own Gift” promotion is specific to Emirati Freedom plans and the eligible activation types listed above. Standard postpaid plans and prepaid plans are not included in this offer.

Is the Fazaa FAZAACPLUS code available to expats?

The Fazaa programme is available to government and semi-government employees, UAE nationals in the private sector, and frontline workers, including many expatriate residents working in those sectors. The 2026 Year of the Family free Fazaa membership also extends to resident families with children, regardless of nationality. If you’re eligible for Fazaa, the Careem Plus code should work for you.

Does Careem Plus work across all Emirates?

Yes. Careem Plus benefits apply wherever Careem operates in the UAE. However, some service availability varies by location. Careem Bike, for instance, is primarily Dubai-based, so the bike perk matters less if you live in Abu Dhabi or the Northern Emirates.

What happens to my Careem Plus if I cancel my bank card?

If the free Plus subscription is tied to your bank card and you cancel or close that card, the free benefit may not continue. Check with your bank whether the offer is linked to card tenure or is a one-time activation that runs independently after being triggered.

The Bottom Line

There’s no reason most UAE residents should be paying for Careem Plus at the standard rate right now. The average Plus member saved AED 375 per month in 2025. The most active member saved over AED 18,200 for the year. Why would you turn down a free subscription? Getting Careem Plus for free through HSBC (12 months), FAB (3 months), RAKBANK (ongoing), e& (3 months), or Fazaa (90 days) is one of the best hacks to save money while shopping online for groceries and more.

Start with your bank. Check if you hold any of the eligible cards before looking elsewhere. For most people, the answer is right on their card. Do your research and find ways to get free subscriptions.