Founded by Arabs.. A Delivery Company Challenges Its Competitors in Israel

- In the depths of the maze-like alleys of the old city of Akka - which houses a Crusader castle dating back 700 years - Muhammad Hani could not order a pizza to be delivered to him; delivery representatives faced great difficulty navigating through a maze of closely packed historical buildings, narrow alleys, and winding streets, which left many Arab residents in the area deprived of these services. The 27-year-old young man says: "We, the residents, are the only ones who know how to navigate these neighborhoods."

Even if the driver managed to find the address, there was another obstacle; many Arab citizens only have cash to pay, while delivery companies - like the leading company "Wolt" in this field in Israel - only accept payment by bank cards. Hani explains this by saying: "Most people here do not have a bank card."

The platform "Hat" was launched in 2019 with the aim of addressing some of the obstacles that kept communities - like Hani's community - on the margins of the advanced technology sector in Israel; not everyone in the country could benefit from the advanced services provided by the latest applications. Initially, the idea of "Hat" was simple: to combine technology with the advantages of traditional cash payment that is characterized by ease and convenience, but technology later proved its worth in areas far beyond its original purpose; it helped the Israeli postal authority map villages and enabled small local restaurants to expand their customer base beyond the limits of their neighborhoods.

The company "Hat" was founded by Hassan Abbasi in the Arab-majority city of Umm al-Fahm in Israel, and it now provides its services in 50 cities, collaborating with more than 10,000 restaurants and stores, and employing over 500 delivery representatives. This success has resulted in the company's market value exceeding 100 million dollars, according to Aida Qadan, the company's public relations and communications officer.

The innovative strategy followed by Abbasi in managing "Hat" has also earned him a spot on the annual list of "40 Under 40" published by "Globes," one of the leading economic newspapers in Israel, to honor promising young Israelis. It is worth noting that Abbasi came up with the idea of "Hat," which is an Arabic word meaning "bring," while working at Google in Switzerland.

Abassi (36 years old) returned from Zurich to Umm al-Fahm when his wife was expecting their second child; one evening, he tried to order pizza, but the delivery person kept getting lost repeatedly. This experience helped Abassi realize a broader problem and see a timely opportunity; he launched the "Hat" company in collaboration with five other partners, starting his activity in Umm al-Fahm before expanding to include neighboring Arab towns.

The demand for the company's services witnessed a tremendous surge during the COVID-19 pandemic, when lockdown measures forced residents to stay at home and boosted online shopping. Abassi was also aware of the structural problems plaguing the banking system in Israel, particularly in the Arab community; a study conducted by the Israeli National Insurance Institute in 2024 indicates that more than 37% of the population lives below the poverty line.

According to the mayor of Umm al-Fahm, Samir Mahamid, many low-income families - especially in the city - lack electronic payment options, making cash the most convenient means for completing transactions.