In the old city of Acre, where the 700-year-old Crusader fortress is located, Muhammad Hani faced difficulties when ordering takeout food. Couriers experienced navigation problems in the labyrinth of ancient, densely built buildings, narrow alleys, and winding streets, leaving many Arab citizens of Israel cut off from such services.
Hani, a 27-year-old resident, noted that only locals know how to navigate these areas. Furthermore, there was another barrier: many Arab citizens could only pay with cash, whereas the leading operator in Israel, Wolt, accepted only card payments. Hani explained that most people here do not have bank cards.
The company Haat, launched in 2019, was created to eliminate such obstacles that alienated communities like Hani's from Israel's high-tech society. Initially, Haat's idea was to combine technology with the traditional convenience of cash payment, but the technology later found applications far beyond its original purpose, helping the Israeli postal service map villages and contributing to the growth of the client base for small local restaurants.
Haat was founded by Hassan Abbasi in the Arabic-speaking city of Umm al-Fahm in Israel. Today, the company provides its services in 50 cities, collaborates with over 10,000 restaurants and markets, and employs more than 500 couriers. Thanks to this success, the app has been valued at over $100 million, according to Aida Qaddan, the company's Head of Public Relations and Communications.
Abbasi's creative strategy with Haat also helped him be included in Globes' list of the 40 best young entrepreneurs, an annual list by one of Israel's leading business publications that recognizes promising young Israelis. Abbasi conceived Haat—an Arabic word meaning 'to bring'—while working at Google in Switzerland. The 36-year-old founder returned to Umm al-Fahm from Zurich because his wife was expecting their second child. One evening, while trying to order pizza, he discovered that the courier kept getting lost.
This experience allowed Abbasi to realize a broader problem and find an opportunity. He launched Haat with five other people, starting work in Umm al-Fahm and then expanding to neighboring Arab cities. Demand surged during the Covid-19 pandemic when lockdowns forced people to stay home, and online orders skyrocketed.
Abbasi was also aware of systemic issues related to banking in Israel, especially in the Arab sector. According to a 2024 study by the National Insurance Institute of Israel, over 37% of the population lives in poverty. Many low-income families simply do not have electronic payment methods, especially in Umm al-Fahm, making cash the most convenient form of payment, according to Mayor Samir Mohamed.
Haat combined the convenience of shopping and dining through a smartphone app with the option of traditional cash payment. This option proved useful not only in Arab communities but also in mixed neighborhoods like Jaffa, where many people do not have bank cards, as noted by Qaddan. Subsequently, Haat expanded its services, allowing users to pay utility and phone bills in cash.