• WheelsOn secures USD 12.5M to expand fleet, launch AI-driven tools, and strengthen presence in the UAE and GCC.
• The platform eliminates deposits, hidden fees, and paperwork, offering a digital-first rental experience through app-based booking and digital car keys.
• By owning and operating its fleet, WheelsOn ensures quality, transparent pricing, and proactive maintenance to improve reliability and customer trust.

WheelsOn

UAE’s mobile-first car rental platform, WheelsOn, secured USD 12.5 million in  funding round. This includes USD 2.2 million in equity from a group of MENA-focused private investors, including partners of Xploration Capital. It also includes USD  6.5M for a fleet expansion round and USD 4M financing from local banks. 

Up next, it will use the funds to expand its fleet, speed up product development, and grow its market presence. It also aims to launch advanced AI-powered dynamic pricing tools to improve fleet utilisation. In addition it seeks to launch smarter personalisation software that recommends vehicles, insurance, and rental periods based on user preferences. Furthermore, its upcoming tech features include digital car keys, enabling renters to unlock vehicles directly via smartphones for a contactless rental.

It also plans to strengthen its footprint in the UAE and expand to other GCC countries. Moreover, it also aims to grow its active user base and substantially increase its fleet capacity. This is to meet the demand for transparent, flexible, and convenient car rentals.

Car Rental 

Founded in 2023, WheelsOn is digital car rental platform aiming to modernize mobility across the Middle East. It was founded by Nikolay Melnichuk, and Adlet Shagirov (Co-Founder & COO), and later joined by Maxim Olivson (CPO).

They created it  out of the challenges faced with the traditional car rental experience. For instance, in the UAE, customers face steep security deposits, hidden fees, and lengthy paperwork, making the process stressful for locals, expats, and tourists. 

The platform offers multi-language support in English, Arabic, Chinese, French, Italian, Spanish, and German. It also seeks to cater to locals, business customers and tourist.This is through  providing flexible monthly rentals, premium cars, chauffeured vans for events, and to convenient airport or hotel delivery. 

“Our mission is to rethink car rentals by offering full transparency, digital convenience, and a product that puts users in control. We remove deposits completely, eliminate paperwork and counter queues, and give customers a seamless experience all through our intuitive mobile app and website,” said Maxim Olivson, CPO at WheelsOn.

Unlike traditional services, it owns and directly operates its entire fleet, thus controlling the complete rental experience. This is to ensure consistent vehicle quality, transparent pricing without hidden fees, and reliable service. Furthermore, its fleet management and vehicle tracking system monitors each vehicle in real-time. This enables proactive maintenance scheduling and operational transparency in order to safeguard customers and improve fleet availability.