VEON and Hala Sign MoU to Expand Ride-Hailing Services Across Frontier Markets
Dubai, UAE – February 17, 2026 – VEON Ltd. and Hala announced a Memorandum of Understanding to explore cooperation in ride-hailing and mobility services across VEON’s operating markets. The partnership will leverage Hala’s UAE expertise to accelerate expansion for 530 million people in Pakistan, Ukraine, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and Bangladesh. Signed at VEON’s Dubai headquarters, the agreement builds on VEON’s Uklon platform experience.
Announcement Specifics
The MoU establishes a framework for evaluating joint market entry, customer strategies, and integration with VEON’s digital ecosystem—including financial services, entertainment, and healthcare. VEON serves nearly 150 million connectivity and 140 million digital monthly users. Hala, Dubai’s leading e-hailing taxi solution and a joint venture between Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) and Careem, operates in Dubai and Ras Al Khaimah with a focus on efficiency and technology. VEON’s ride-hailing experience stems from Uklon, Ukraine’s top platform, which expanded to Uzbekistan in April 2025. Transaction volumes were undisclosed.
Stakeholder Perspectives
“At VEON, we are building digital services that improve the lives of our customers every day in some of the most exciting and underserved markets of our region. With our existing ride-hailing operations in Ukraine and Uzbekistan, we already see strong demand for locally-built, locally-relevant solutions that give us the opportunity to deliver valuable experiences to our customers with multiple touchpoints on any given day. Our partnership with Hala has the potential to significantly accelerate the scale and impact of our mobility service offerings across our other markets.”
— Kaan Terzioglu, Group CEO at VEON
Why it matters: This underscores VEON’s strategic pivot to digital diversification beyond traditional telecom services.
“Hala has developed a scalable ride-hailing platform in the UAE built around operational efficiency, technology integration and consistent service delivery. Through this MoU with VEON, we are exploring how that experience can support expansion into new markets where VEON already has strong digital reach and customer relationships. By combining VEON’s scale and ecosystem with Hala’s mobility expertise, we see potential to develop locally relevant ride-hailing platforms that integrate seamlessly with other digital services.”
— Khaled Nuseibeh, CEO at Hala
Why it matters: This highlights Hala’s exportable model for frontier market expansion.
Industry Context
Ride-hailing demand surges in frontier markets amid urbanization and smartphone penetration. VEON, following its 2024 Dubai headquarters relocation, eyes super-app synergies similar to Careem’s integrated model. Competitors like Uber and Bolt face localization hurdles, while local players increasingly thrive through strategic partnerships.
Dubai cements its position as a startup hub, exporting UAE mobility technology to Asia and Central Asia. For VEON’s markets, the partnership promises affordable, integrated transport solutions amid infrastructure gaps.
Conclusion
This MoU positions VEON and Hala to pioneer scalable, ecosystem-linked ride-hailing services, potentially transforming daily mobility for millions. Next steps include commercial pilots across VEON’s operating markets.
Sources: Zawya, VEON, GlobeNewswire
