Senior Director of Government Relations & Public Policy

About The Role

Location: Dubai, UAE (frequent travel required)

Reports to: Chief Business Officer

Our ambition is to be globally recognized as the most valued and trusted digital platform for our region – partnering with governments to build the digital backbone for our markets and citizens. As we continue to grow, we are looking for a Senior Director of Government Relations & Public Policy to drive the Company’s corporate affairs and public policy agenda and build sustainable long-term regulatory frameworks for our businesses, customers, Captains and government partners across the Middle East. This is a senior role in the region’s largest technology company, requiring a strategic leader with deep experience in policy, regulatory affairs, and corporate communications.

What you’ll do

The Senior Director of Government Relations & Public Policy will lead all aspects of government engagement, policy development, and regulatory strategy across Careem’s core businesses, including payments, food delivery, and grocery delivery. The role will involve:

• Developing and executing a comprehensive government relations and regulatory strategy to support Careem’s growth.
• Engaging with senior government stakeholders to advocate for regulatory frameworks that align with both business needs and public policy objectives.
• Leading corporate affairs campaigns to shape public policy discussions and promote Careem’s vision.
• Managing a cross-regional team of government relations specialists based in Jordan and Saudi Arabia.
• Collaborating with internal teams, including business development, legal, communications, and product, to align regulatory strategy with company goals.

Key Responsibilities

Government Relations & Regulatory Strategy

• Act as Careem’s primary representative in senior-level discussions with government ministries, regulators, and policy-makers, including but not limited to Transportation, Labour, and Finance ministries.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with sector regulators, technology and investment-focused government entities, and policy influencers across Careem’s markets.
• Negotiate and advocate for win-win regulatory outcomes that enable sustainable business growth while addressing government priorities.
• Identify, prioritize, and mitigate regulatory risks while identifying new opportunities for collaboration with government entities.
• Lead the creation of policy white papers, research reports, and economic justifications to support Careem’s policy positions.
• Drive alignment across multiple jurisdictions to ensure a consistent and effective public policy approach.

Corporate Affairs & Public Policy Engagement

• Design and execute public policy campaigns to shape industry discussions around ride-hailing, fintech, food delivery, and digital commerce.
• Develop compelling policy content, including case studies, reports, and advocacy materials, to communicate Careem’s impact.
• Map and engage with key non-government stakeholders, including media, industry bodies, think tanks, and multilateral organizations.
• Identify and execute strategic public-private partnerships that enhance Careem’s position in the region.

Team Leadership & Internal Communication

• Lead and mentor a team of government relations professionals across Jordan and Saudi Arabia.
• Build and maintain a regulatory risk dashboard to track policy developments and their impact on Careem’s businesses.
• Develop internal reports and updates to keep senior leadership informed on regulatory risks, opportunities, and ongoing engagement efforts.

What you’ll need

The ideal candidate will be a highly strategic, diplomatic, and results-driven leader with a strong track record in public policy, regulatory affairs, and government relations.

Essential Qualifications

• 10-15 years of experience in government affairs, policy, regulatory strategy, corporate affairs, or a related field. Prior experience in a leading private company, a top law firm, management consultancy, communications agency, or multilateral organization is preferred.
• Proven experience engaging with senior government officials, regulators, and policymakers across multiple jurisdictions.
• Strong analytical skills, with the ability to develop data-driven policy positions and craft compelling advocacy materials.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to translate complex regulatory issues into clear, persuasive messaging.
• Experience leading cross-regional teams and managing multi-stakeholder engagement strategies.
• Demonstrated ability to navigate regulatory uncertainty and drive business outcomes in emerging markets.
• Arabic speaking/ writing skills.
• GCC and Levant experience

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working in the technology, mobility, fintech, FMCG or digital economy sectors.
• Strong quantitative and economic analysis skills to support policy development.
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, high-growth environment, balancing long-term strategic goals with immediate business needs.