Uber announced Tuesday the launch of UberBus in Egypt, a day after its competitor Careem officially launched Careem Bus in Cairo. Uber also announced it will bring Uber Lite, a new version of the rider app built to work in low connectivity, and with older Android devices, across the Middle East region early next year.
Uber said that it has been testing Uber Bus since September 2018 to ensure the safety and seamlessness of the product prior to its launch.
According to the announcement, the initial rollout will start by covering the areas of Nasr City, Heliopolis, Greater Downtown, and Mohandeseen, and will expand across Cairo in upcoming months.
Regarding Careem Bus, Careem announced on Monday launching Careem Bus through four pilot lines covering a number of Cairo’s main neighbourhoods. It is looking to invest $100 million in this service in the coming period.
Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi and Egyptian Minister of Investment and International Cooperation Sahar Nasr attended the launch of Uber Bus on Tuesday, Dec. 4.
According to Uber, this step comes within the framework of the company’s plan to pump investments in Egypt by $100 million within 5 years.
“Uber Bus, a product built for Cairo, incorporates Uber technology into the city’s already popular minibus system to provide safe, seamless, and efficient trips. Cairo is the first city globally to be rolling out Uber Bus, which is an important step as Uber broadens its platform to be more accessible so that truly anyone, anywhere can get a ride,” Uber stated.
In the same context, the company said: “Uber Lite, the new, space-saving app works in low connectivity areas and on 99 per cent of Android devices. UberLite’s new interface was designed to make booking rides quicker and lighter in spotty connectivity, on basic Android phones, and for people with limited data plans. The product is already being tested in parts of the region with plans to roll out early next year.”
“When a global company like Uber chooses Egypt to launch Uber Bus, it is a testament to the success of the investment climate after the latest regulatory reforms. Uber’s new investments will benefit from the new investment law and the ride-sharing regulations, as well as the roads and bridges infrastructure the country has put in place, based on the directives of President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi,” the minister commented.
The minister also said that “Uber’s investments highlight the attractiveness of Egypt’s investment climate. Having opened its Centre of Excellence in Cairo in 2017 with an investment of around US$ 20 million, Uber has now, in 2018, chosen Cairo once again, this time for the launch of Uber Bus.”
“I’m excited to be in Cairo to launch UberBus, a product that will improve affordable transportation for millions of Egyptians by using Uber’s technology to enhance the popular minibus system. We are committed to broadening access to the Uber platform with a range of low-cost options that will move more people around town and help cities tackle issues such as congestion. Egypt and the Middle East region are hugely important to Uber and we will continue to heavily invest in this part of the world,” Uber CEO said.
UberBus is the latest addition to the Uber app in Egypt, joining the UberX, Select and Scooter services.
