According to a Zain press release, Zain and Uber have partnered up to offer Zain customers discounted and preferential services when using the Uber platform. The service is already active in Bahrain, Jordan and Saudi Arabia but according the press release, Kuwait is next. If this isn’t definitive proof that Uber is coming to Kuwait I’m not sure what is. [Link]
Thanks Musaed
21 replies on “More signs Uber is coming to Kuwait”
i’m just a little curious since i’ve never used uber when i was living outside kuwait but what would uber offer that’s different from the regular cabs we find on the road? i’m guessing one thing is that the ride can be charged to my card from the app but what else? what about the prices? i know that in some countries it is cheaper to uber than to hail a cab. if this takes off in kuwait and it becomes a more economical option than the taxis here then i’m stoked ’cause the cab drivers here are rip offs.
unless uber just ends up working with the taxi companies :/
A number of ways:
1) You use an app to order an uber car, the app will tell you how long the driver needs to get to you, show u their location on the map as well as provide u with a rating of the driver and a photo and name.
2) You can use the app to get a fare estimate before you go on your trip
3) depending on the city you are in there would be a ton of different uber options like different level of cars. so for really cheap prices u could use uber carpool or uber pop, for fancier cars you could go with uber black. in capetown they have uber chopper, in LA you could even order food with uber
4) Other than in London and Dubai, from my experience uber is always cheaper but i generally choose the carpool, pop or x cars
5) you don’t pay them, its all automated with the app so that way no need to have money with you
6) the service always tends to be better than regular cabs. most ubers have water for you. when i was in lebanon one uber driver had a cooler in the trunk filled with ice and water and so the water would always be cold
7) if you’ve ever been to lebanon you’ll appreciate the fact they have uber there now since you no longer need to haggle and use your best negotiation skills to get a quote for a 5 minute ride
Most importantly, YOU RATE THE DRIVERS so they have an incentive not to be assholes which seems to be the natural state of all taxi drivers worldwide
Please read this. It might put some things into perspective for you. I’ve always hated Uber and have no intention of ever using it.
https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/this-is-why-i-deleted-uber-from-my-phone-and-you-should-too-9875978.html
I’ve read so much stuff on Uber but it really doesn’t change the fact that I love the service. They’re the best thing to happen to transportation and I use them religiously when I travel.
Uber is a blessing, especially in Kuwait.
By the way, I have used a similar app in Kuwait and it always works whenever I have used it. Its called ‘Easy Taxi’.
Only thing similar is that u order a cab via an app and that’s about it. But they’ve closed down in Kuwait anyway it no longer works.
They did? I used Easy Taxi in Kuwait earlier this week.
If uber manage to overcome the billion kuwaitcentric legal and licensing obstacles here, thats going to be a miracle. If they manage to keep their prices competitive like in Cairo, Beirut and everywhere else, then they will do great. Thats where careem failed dismally since they are way too fucking expensive so nobody uses them….
Whatchu talkin’ about. I always use Careem in Dubai. They are extremely reliable, punctual and whoever I have had with me was really impressed with the service.
Granted in Dubai the enter public transportation infrastructure is extremely well managed – even there Careem tends to be a cut above the rest.
He meant Careem in Kuwait
Uber is currently testing the cash on delivery service in Riyadh.
I am just curious. Wouldn’t it be risky for Uber drivers to have it in Kuwait?
I remember using private cab a couple of times and they’d tell me if the Cop stops dont tell him you’re paying me.
He probably wasn’t a licensed cab driver
He wasn’t licensed. Uber in certain markets is registering as a licensed Taxi company.
This is awesome, if it goes well I believe it will cause the stupid cab drivers that stop in the middle of the road to lose business and eventually fall out. There are so many of them.
Always wondered what it would feel like becoming an Uber driver. So exciting.
I love uber when I travel, but considering that they were giving people a hard time last year for “illegal rides” and for operating as “private cabs” when in reality sometimes it was a bunch of people carpooling together to work, I fail to see how they can get Uber to be operating here legitimately. That’s not to mention how long it takes to get any kind of legislation to pass here, or the backlash they will face from cab companies, their owners and their political representatives
Again, you register Uber as a taxi/transport company. That way everything is legal. The guys getting stopped are charging for a service they are not licensed to do, which, btw, is illegal in most places and not just Kuwait.
In fact Uber in certain cities was banned specifically because you can’t charge for private rides and this is how they got around it.
Uber will make Kuwait a better place .
1- it will offer better private drivers since uber drivers will be rated upon their driving skills and safety measures , uber takes safety complains about the drivers seriously they will easily suspend a driver for not driving safely .
2- we will have less cars in the street , i personally pay around 300 K.D monthly for my car (installment , gas and maintenance ) if i can get around not driving for around 200 kd i wouldn’t mind considering i get bored from driving .
3-it will make taxi drivers more competitive in pricing driving skill and overall appeal since uber will steal their drivers if they do not evolve and adapt.
3-it will create a new source of income for many people and make people less likely to drive since they can use uber in their daily commute for less than a car cost and without the hassle of looking for a taxi in the heat .