Careem Builders ’26: Hack to the Future – Terms and Conditions
PLEASE READ THESE TERMS AND CONDITIONS ("TERMS") CAREFULLY. THESE TERMS APPLY TO EVERYONE WHO REGISTERS FOR OR TAKES PART IN THE CAREEM BUILDERS ’26: HACK TO THE FUTURE ("HACKATHON"), BY SUBMITTING AN APPLICATION OR TAKING PART, YOU CONFIRM THAT YOU HAVE READ, UNDERSTOOD AND AGREE TO BE BOUND BY THESE TERMS. IF YOU DO NOT AGREE TO ALL OF THESE TERMS, DO NOT REGISTER OR PARTICIPATE IN THE HACKATHON.
1. Introduction
1.1 The Hackathon is organised by:
- Careem Deliveries FZ-LLC for the event held in the United Arab Emirates (the “UAE Event”); and
- Careem Deliveries Freezone for the event held in Jordan (the “Jordan Event”).
1.2 In these Terms, “Careem”, “we” and “us” mean the Careem organising entity for the event you attend, together with its affiliates where the context allows. “You” and “Participant” mean each individual who registers or takes part, whether alone or as a member of a team, in the Hackathon.
1.3 Careem may update these Terms at any time or during the Hackathon. Updated Terms take effect when published or communicated to Participants. Continued participation means you accept the updated Terms.
2. Dates and registration
2.1 The Hackathon consists of two separate in-person events:
- The UAE Event on 14 November 2026; and
- The Jordan Event on 22 November 2026.
2.2 Apply online by submitting applications to:
2.3 Each team must submit one application naming all team members. Each Participant may register and take part in only one event and only one team.
2.4 Submitting an application does not guarantee a place at an in-person event. Careem may accept or reject any application at its sole discretion and is not required to give reasons.
2.5 Accepted Participants will be invited by Careem to attend the Hackathon and must attend in person for the full duration of the event at the venue Careem notifies. Participants are responsible for their own travel, accommodation and other costs of attending. Remote participation is not permitted and any Participant who does not attend or leaves early without Careem’s agreement may be disqualified.
2.6 Participants must follow all rules and the reasonable instructions of Careem’s staff in respect of the Hackathon and the venue where the event takes place. All Participants must act honestly, respectfully and professionally towards other Participants, judges, Careem staff and venue staff. Harassment, discrimination, intimidation, offensive behaviour or content, cheating, plagiarism or disruptive conduct will not be tolerated.
2.7 Careem may change the date, venue, format or schedule of either event, or postpone or cancel either event, at any time for any reason. Careem will try to give reasonable notice of any change but will have no liability to Participants as a result.
3. Eligibility and teams
3.1 To take part, you must be at least 18 years old and legally able to enter into these Terms in the country of the event you attend.
3.2 Participants may take part individually or in teams of up to three people. A team must have at least one Participant and no more than three members.
3.3 Each team must nominate one member as its team lead, who will be Careem’s main point of contact. Each team member is individually bound by these Terms. Team changes after registration closes require Careem’s prior approval.
3.4 Employees of Careem and its affiliates (“Careem Tigers”) may take part in the Hackathon, but a Careem Tiger and any team that includes one or more Careem Tigers (including a team that also includes individuals who are not Careem Tigers) are not eligible to win a Hackathon event or to receive any Prize or Swag. Such teams may still present their projects at Careem’s discretion.
3.5 Careem may ask any Participant to provide proof of identity, age or eligibility. Careem may disqualify any Participant or team that does not meet these eligibility requirements or does not provide the requested proof.
4. Judging and prizes
4.1 Careem judges all projects. Careem’s decisions on judging, Hackathon attendees, winners and which Careem Tigers may submit their projects as part of the Hackathon are final and binding.
4.2 Each project idea set out in a team’s application must be created during the Hackathon. Careem may disqualify any Participant or team at any time at its sole discretion including where Careem believes the Participant or team has:
- breached these Terms or any event rules;
- submitted work that is not their own, or that infringes the rights of any third party;
- submitted content that is unlawful, offensive, defamatory or otherwise inappropriate;
- acted dishonestly, unfairly, or in a way that disrupts the event or harms other Participants; or
- provided false or misleading information in their application.
4.3 Winners will receive prizes (“Prizes”) and attendees at the Hackathon will receive merchandise (“Swag”), as announced by Careem. Careem will decide the number of attendees and winners for each event.
4.4 Prizes and Swag are personal, non-transferable and cannot be exchanged for cash or for any other item. Where a Prize is awarded to a team, it will be shared amongst the team members as Careem determines. Careem reserves the right to substitute a Prize or Swag with one of similar value if the original is not available.
5. Intellectual Property
5.1 You agree Careem owns everything you create during the Hackathon, whether alone or as part of a team, including all code, designs, ideas and other materials (“Hackathon IP”). You agree you assign all rights in the Hackathon IP to Careem upon creation and you waive any rights to the same. You agree to sign any documents needed to confirm this without any payment required, both during and after the Hackathon.
5.2 You agree Careem may use, modify, commercialise, licence or otherwise exploit the Hackathon IP for any purpose without any liability to you.
5.3 You confirm your contribution to any project is your own work and does not infringe anyone else’s rights or any confidential information belonging to another person.
5.4 Participants receive no licence to use Careem’s trademarks, logos, APIs, data or other intellectual property except as expressly made available by Careem for the purposes of the Hackathon and only for the duration of the Hackathon.
6. Confidentiality
6.1 Any non-public information that Careem shares with you before, during and after the Hackathon is “Confidential Information”. Confidential Information includes information about Careem’s business, products, technology, APIs, data, customers, partners, plans and finances, as well as the Hackathon IP.
6.2 Each Participant must:
- keep all Confidential Information confidential;
- use Confidential Information only for the purpose of taking part in the Hackathon;
- not disclose Confidential Information to any other than team members of their own team who need to know it for the Hackathon and who are bound by these Terms; and
- on Careem’s request, promptly return or securely delete all Confidential Information in their possession.
6.3 Participants must not publish, post on social media or otherwise share any project, demo, code or description relating to the Hackathon without Careem’s prior written consent.
6.4 These obligations do not apply to Confidential Information the Participant can show is or becomes publicly available other than through a breach of these Terms; was lawfully known to them before Careem disclosed it; or must be disclosed by law (in which case, the Participant must, where lawful to do so, give Careem prompt written notice). The obligations in this clause 6 (Confidentiality) continue indefinitely after the Hackathon ends.
7. Publicity
7.1 The Hackathon will be photographed, filmed and recorded. By taking part in the Hackathon, you consent to being photographed, filmed and interviewed and you grant to Careem and its partners the right to use your name, likeness, photographs, voice, biographical information and project (together, “Participant Materials”) for promotional and publicity purposes related to the Hackathon and recruitment and internal communications in any media now known or devised in the future, without further compensation or permission unless prohibited by law.
8. Privacy
8.1 Careem will collect and process Participants’ personal data, including application details and Participation Materials, in connection with the Hackathon. This processing and each Participant’s participation is governed by Careem’s privacy notice at: https://www.careem.com/en-AE/privacy-notice-technologies/
8.2 A Participant who provides personal data about another person (for example, a team member) confirms that they are entitled to do so.
9. Disclaimer and indemnity
9.1 You take part at your own risk. The Hackathon and all Prizes and Swag are provided “as is” and “as available” without any warranty, express or implied, including but not limited to the implied warranties of merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose or non-infringement. To the fullest extent permitted by law, Careem and its affiliates are not liable for any loss or damage whether or not Careem and/or its affiliates have been informed of the possibility of such damage.
9.2 You will indemnify Careem and its affiliates for any claims or losses arising from your breach of these Terms, any project or content you submit, your participation in the Hackathon or your violation of anyone else’s rights (including IP rights).
10. Governing law, jurisdiction and general
10.1 These Terms are governed by the laws and the courts of the country where you attend the Hackathon.
10.2 If any provision of these Terms is found invalid or unenforceable, the rest of these Terms will remain in full force.
10.3 Careem's failure to enforce any provision of these Terms is not a waiver of its right to do so later.
10.4 Clauses 5 (Intellectual property), 6 (Confidentiality), 7 (Publicity), 9 (Disclaimer and indemnity) and 10.1 (Governing law) survive the end of the Hackathon and any disqualification or withdrawal.
10.5 These Terms may be provided in English and Arabic. If there is any inconsistency, the English version prevails to the extent permitted by law.
