Until Uber comes to Kuwait we’re kinda stuck with alternatives for now and the most recent one I found out about is the Q8 Taxi app. I haven’t ordered a cab with it yet since I haven’t had a need for one, but I have been playing with the app and noticed two interesting things about Q8 Taxi. The first is that there always seems to be a cab nearby. The second is that the taxis they use have working meters. The description under “Car Type” in the app is “Meter Taxi” but I thought that might just be a generic description so I called customer support to confirm their cabs actually use the meters and they confirmed to me that they do. If thats the case then this could be the best app to use until Uber becomes available.
If you’ve used the app before, let me know below of your experience. For those of you who are interested in downloading the app, it’s available for both iOS and Android. [Link]
25 replies on “Q8 Taxi App”
Has anyone tried Careem in Kuwait?
No, we are to poor to even try. 🙂
I love Careem and use it regularly in Dubai, Beirut, Riyadh and Cairo…mainly to support a UAE business and not give my money to Silicon Valley jerks. Though I do sometimes use Uber as a fallback option, and I can’t deny it works great.
However in Kuwait I tried to call them once for a friend. It was a bit late and the app said the driver would need 30 minutes. I called the driver to verify and he sounded groggy like I had just woken him up. I canceled the ride
Yeah you should give your money to UAE businesses rather than those from Silicon Valley because they are more ethical…riiiiiight. That makes a whole lot of sense.
How about Easy Taxi.
heard it doesnt work in kuwait anymore
Easy taxi still works, but not reliable. I have had taxi drivers wanting more money than what’s stipulated on their price guide.
I have also had many cancellations!
Mark… any idea why Uber is taking so long to come to Kuwait? What are the obstacles it’s facing?
no idea, i should probably ask someone at zain
They are making agreement with uber. Uber will come by January or February next year.
It is probably facing way too many toes to step on.
probably the fact that 90% of all taxi companies are owned by high ranking police officers
Exactly +1
Also it won’t succeed as a business in Kuwait. Just because a few people really want it doesn’t mean they will have enough business to justify the cost and gigantic headache of doing business here.
This reminds me how switching your mobile number between telecom companies took so long.
I think it’s illegal for drivers to charge a fee when they’re using their private vehicles.
I would think that’s the main reason.
Uber doesn’t need private vehicles to work, it works with licensed cab drivers as well.
This app just butchered the English language.
would love to use a website instead of an app. I just don’t like to crowd my mobile
I got a big question for the use of this APP. If it does state that taxi’s are using meters, then there would be no issues with those taxi’s charging their “AIRPORT FLAT RATES” when needing a ride to the airport. You all know what I mean, KD5/6/7/8 ride for a KD2 or 3 trip.
Tried it this morning to try get a taxi after I dropped my car in the garage. Didn’t work, tried to get a Ride a couple of times, but every time the app came back with “your booking is cancelled.please try again”
This is awesome! If anything, this app affirms what a fair rate is for a taxi trip. I am tired of bargaining for taxis; it is such a waste of energy.
I know from my life in Bahrain that taxi licenses are reserved only for citizens. Over there, locals had to even drive the cabs (it’s a poorer country compared to Kuwait, hence people are willing to work). That was one of the biggest hurdles for Uber and Easy Taxi to launch in Bahrain.
However, in Qatar and UAE for example, the regulation allows citizens to acquire taxi licenses and lease it out to expat drivers. Hence you hardly see locals driving taxis there and mostly Asians operate the business.
Anyone knows what are the taxi regulations here? I’m more than sure that locals wont touch the taxi business with a barge pole.
Don’t use q8taxi app
I used the q8taxi app from mahboula to airport in kuwait.
Normally the fare is 4KD
However the driver, name is matloop, this fucking crazy beggar is insisting airport special fare!!!!
I paid 6 KD and I really dont recommend this fucking app to you guys.
Dont use q8 taxi unless really you want to be hurt.
They’re liars, they give you a rate and then change the price when you arrive to your destination