Uber will boost its support for the mobility technology industry’s recovery and growth in 2022, as it works to achieve its overarching vision of a “convenient, smart and sustainable mobility ecosystem”, according to the ‘Uber MENA: 2021 in Numbers’ report.
The global taxi-hailing app acquired Dubai-based Careem for $3.1 billion in 2020, in which it obtained Careem’s mobility, delivery, and payments businesses across the greater Middle East region.
“We will continue to be bold, using Uber’s technology merged with our hyperlocal approach to innovate faster. We are more focused than ever on making Uber the best platform for earners while also championing women empowerment across the region, through initiatives such as Wusool, Uber’s largest subsidized program globally,” said Uber in an official statement.
Over 31 million riders have taken trips with Uber since the launch of its app in the MENA region, stated the report.
The company app also revealed that 703,000 drivers in Egypt, 530,000 in Saudi Arabia and 18,000 in the UAE made trips since the service was launched.
Contributing to its steady 2021 figures, Uber cited the roll out of vaccines and relaxing of some restrictions over the course of the year.
Uber also saw an increase in the number of people commuting into offices and places of work again, with the peak time for trip requests in the UAE being at 6:00pm, as the workday ends and offices clear out, it said.
Key travel trends from 2021:
- A rider in Saudi Arabia topped the charts with 1,706 trips in 2021 – taking on average 4 trips a day.
- Top drivers made 7,613 trips in the Eastern Province in Saudi, 6,978 trips in Cairo, and 4,244 trips in Dubai.
- Uber Bus witnessed growth of 2.4x compared to 2020 as it continued to facilitate affordable trips for commuters across Cairo.
- Supporting the community through the pandemic, Uber riders took more than 126,355 free or discounted trips through the app to and from Covid-19 vaccination centers.
- Last year saw the rebirth of traveling with people from 80 countries using the Uber app while visiting Egypt and from 84 countries while visiting the UAE.
- The tourist hot spots in the Middle East were popular trip destinations, with 14,747 trips to the Great Pyramids of Giza in Egypt. The Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world, was also popular, racking up 319,596 trips. The Boulevard in Riyadh is also one of the top destinations in KSA.
“We will continue to innovate with new products and initiatives that help move us, together with strategic partners, governments, drivers and, of course, riders as we work to make the Uber app an essential part of everyday life,” Uber shared.
