Layoffs in United Arab Emirates

DoubleCloud, a data infrastructure platform company, is winding down operations after failing to align its ambitious service goals and growth plans with available funding. While the exact number of layoffs and total employee count are not specified, the company's closure implies a full workforce reduction. The announcement was made in 2024, with new accounts halted from October 1, 2024, and a transition period for existing clients until March 1, 2025. Operating in the tech industry, DoubleCloud focused on open-source data solutions, offering services like Data Transfer and Data Visualization to help clients manage their data infrastructure efficiently. The company's scale is not detailed, but it served various clients until its operational wind-down.

Kitopi laid off 93 employees representing approximately 10% of its workforce on 2022-11-21.

In June 2022, Egyptian healthtech startup Vezeeta, which operates across the Middle East and Africa, laid off approximately 10% of its workforce, affecting around 50 employees out of a total of nearly 500. The company, which had evolved from an "Uber for Ambulance" model to a subscription-based doctor booking platform serving 10 million patients, did not publicly state a reason for the cuts. However, the layoffs occurred amid a broader trend of workforce reductions in the tech sector, including other healthtech firms globally, as startups adjusted to shifting market conditions and venture capital landscapes. Vezeeta had previously raised significant funding, including a $40 million Series D round in 2020, and was considered a promising "soonicorn" in the region.

BitOasis laid off 9 employees representing approximately 5% of its workforce on 2022-06-19.

Awok representing approximately 100% of its workforce on 2020-09-02.

Careem, a Dubai-based ride-hailing company operating across the Middle East, North Africa, and Pakistan, laid off 536 employees on May 5, 2020, representing 31% of its total workforce. The drastic cuts were a direct response to the COVID-19 pandemic, which caused government lockdowns and severely reduced demand. The company's core ride-hailing business plummeted by up to 90% in some markets, with overall business down 80%, leading to rapidly multiplying losses. To conserve cash and ensure survival, Careem made the difficult decision to reduce its largest cost—people—while pausing further investments. The CEO stated that a full recovery to pre-crisis business levels was not expected until late 2021.

In April 2020, the Dubai-based ghost kitchen startup Kitopi laid off 124 employees in New York City, citing the severe business impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The company, which had only expanded into New York in late 2019, stated the layoffs were due to "unforeseeable business circumstances" and the need to suspend operations amid the global crisis. While the exact percentage of its total workforce affected is not specified, the cuts occurred shortly after Kitopi secured $60 million in funding to expand in the U.S. This move reflects the broader turmoil in the hospitality and food delivery industry during the pandemic, where even rapidly growing startups faced difficult restructuring decisions.

The Modist representing approximately 100% of its workforce on 2020-04-02.