CarSwitch

Dubai-based used-car marketplace in the UAE and Saudi Arabia that inspects cars with a 200-point check and manages listing, buyer enquiries and ownership transfer for sellers.

Industry: Used-car marketplace | Location: Dubai, United Arab Emirates | Founded: 2016 | Total Funding: USD 2.3M

About CarSwitch

CarSwitch is a used-car marketplace operating in the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, which its website describes as tech-enabled. Its head office is in Jumeirah Lakes Towers, Dubai. The site lists a managed selling service called SafeSwitch, which covers inspection, photography, listing, enquiries, pricing and transfer of ownership through the Roads and Transport Authority. Cars sold through the platform receive a 200-point inspection and a verified condition report, and buyers can add a six-month warranty for AED 499. The site also offers a free online valuation, car financing and installment options, and price listings for new cars.

CarSwitch was founded in 2016 by Imad Hammad, who is founder and chief executive, and Ali Malik, both former McKinsey and Company consultants, according to Wamda. Its newsroom was publishing guides and market articles on used and new cars in October 2026.

In March 2017 Wamda reported that the platform had grown 30 percent month on month and had dealt with more than 6,000 sellers. By March 2018 it reported contact with more than 20,000 used-car sellers in Dubai and growth of more than 600 percent over 16 months. The company's website now reports more than 130,000 cars inspected, more than USD 500 million in sales and more than 100 specialists, without dating the figures. It lists payment partners including Emirates NBD, First Abu Dhabi Bank, ADCB, ADIB, Dubai Islamic Bank and Emirates Islamic, and says it was named Most Trusted Pre-Owned Car Company by the MEA Business Awards. The site also says CarSwitch is backed by Al-Futtaim, without giving terms or a date.

Glowfish Capital invested USD 1.3 million in March 2017 to fund technology development. In March 2018 CarSwitch raised a further USD 1 million led by Dubai Angel Investors with follow-on investment from Glowfish, bringing total investment to more than USD 2 million over 16 months. The company said it planned a Series A near the end of 2018. No later funding round was confirmed from sources reviewed.

Leadership