Earlier tonight while in Doha I took an Uber cab and as I usually do I opened up a conversation with the driver. I love Uber so I’m always being nosy and asking the drivers questions about the service like how much interest Uber takes, how many hours they work and other Uber driver related questions.
Anyway we were talking about Uber in different countries in the region and he asked me about Uber in Kuwait and I told him we didn’t have it yet. He found that odd and asked me if I was sure. After convincing him that I was he told me two months back he picked up a women who told him she worked for Uber in Kuwait. I thought that was interesting. It would make sense if they did come to Kuwait since they’re already in Doha, Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Jeddah, Riyad, Manama and Beirut. Even though I have a car there are occasions where I’ve needed a cab and I just hated the fact that I need to negotiate with the drivers for a price because they didn’t want to turn their meters on.
47 replies on “Uber coming to Kuwait?”
Im from New York, i love UBER! if we can get it in Kuwait i would use it everyday! 🙂
I don’t know what uber is or how it works… all I know is that cabs are not well regulated in Kuwait so it will be very difficult for a proper cab company to operate here.
its not a cab company. its a private driver service.
That’s the problem you see, carpools are technically illegal as far as I am aware, Uber will have to do some serious lobbying for the Kuwaiti governmemt to pass laws that would allow an individual with a car and a drivers license to become an Uber driver, who would sponsor him? If he is already sponsored by some other employer, how would he be legally able to become an Uber driver?
and I highly doubt that Uber would be willing to transfer the residencies of 100’s of people that would be willing to jump onto the Uber bandwagon.
Guys why do you think uber will higher its own drivers? Current taxi drivers (not the metered ones) could sign up to work with uber. In dubai for example the white lexus taxis, some are also signed up to work with uber.
lets hope the lobby behind all the taxis doesn’t stand against Uber here.
you know what : even if uber decide that its not worth opening in Kuwait since there are barely any tourists or visitors and the red tape is a damn nightmare, why cant they at the very least do what dubai did and have an app to order normal taxis.Check out the smart taxi app in Dubai.Brilliant,easy to use and you pay the cab directly…..
there is already an app like that for kuwait. its called (EasyTaxi)
*he picked up a women*
Uber was recently banned in Delhi India, after a driver raped a lady passenger. It has come to light that Uber do not have a proper screening system while selecting the drivers.
They actually do pretty extensive background checks, at least in the US.
in the U.S they do really deep screenings and background checks.
just because a Indian driver in Delhi got horny, don’t blame an entire company.
Around a year ago while I were in Doha, my driver told me that they will be coming to Kuwait and Saudi Arabia “really soon”.
Uber is running now in Jeddah since last February or so. but not in Kuwait.
Jeddah and Riyadh*
check out “EASY TAXI’ app
Don’t bother, it sucks.
Well there is an app called ” Easy Taxi ” which is being used by many people nowadays here in Kuwait.
Never tried it though.
I’ve posted about Easy Taxi, it’s kinda like uber except it’s missing the most important feature, the fact you don’t have to pay the driver in cash. With Uber your credit card gets charged automatically after the ride is over.
That’s the only reason why I dislike Uber! I want to pay in cash.
thats the best part about uber, i’m in doha and haven’t withdrawn or exchanged qatari riyals yet and doubt i will.
Easy Taxi is a NIGHTMARE to use and deal with.
We keep forgetting that this is NOT a normal country. Picking up passengers is highly illegal unless you are a licensed taxi or a bus. Hundreds of people have been immediately deported for picking up passengers. In fact this was the first ‘immediate deportation’ offense before that was cool. Nowadays you get deported for farting too loudly.
They are licensed drivers. Depends on the country you’re in but in Dubai and Doha for example, the drivers have a limo license.
Uber’s been banned in certain cities already because guess what, not being a licensed taxi and still offering taxi services is illegal pretty much everywhere
There are different kinds of uber for example uberx, uberpop, uberblack and even uberchopper. I believe uberx or pop uses unlicensed taxi drivers but thats not available everywhere.
Even so countries are banning it wholesale for not following the regulations they have in place
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uber_%28company%29#Regulatory_opposition
The Lebanese government recently tried to ban Uber (due to pressure from the Public Transport Union). Anyways recently many people have been turning against them for bad business practices.
But at least it would be a better option than the roaming or office taxis here.
What’s wrong with the “Queen Taxi” in Lebanon ? It’s the best and cheapest 😛
It’s banned in Spain already, and Delhi
Oh and in France starting 2015, and already in Holland
kwt has to be different… it will not follow what the other GCC have done !…
Is it reliable enough?
https://www.reuters.com/article/2014/12/15/us-uber-india-womentaxis-idUSKBN0JT0J620141215
https://time.com/3626143/uber-india-rape/
Taxi companies owned by MOI officials open to Uber operating here?
I dont think so.
Who wants to give up that unique, distinctive, exclusive, desensitising perfume aroma that can only be found in a regular cab in Kuwait?
You all the know the smell………the one that melts your nose hairs, causes you to tear and your cloth colours to fade, disorientation and dizziness. Better than a hit a line and a shot combined!!
You guys must be nuts to exchange that with such a fancy-shmancy Uber limo/car!
https://gulfnews.com/about-gulf-news/al-nisr-portfolio/xpress/news/drunk-uber-driver-called-me-15-times-at-5am-woman-1.1437728
the last thing we need in this country is more taxis. No thanks
it would be impossible for Uber to operate in kuwait ……Every Uber transaction requires a credit card and in kuwait most people use cash or Knet to pay for services/goods.
Why impossible? Who doesnt have a credit card?
Open your eyes Mark, and be realistic at times 🙂
Anyway, I don’t think Uber will flourish here in Kuwait.
is that a real question!? dude must be hard to see the rest of the world (aka kuwait) from where you are
I think you’re confusing who the target audience for Uber is. If you have a smart phone and are sophisticated enough to know about Uber and understand how to use it then you’re most likely to have a credit card.
Who said you have to have credit card? I never used a credit card with Uber! I actually linked it with paypal which is linked with my debit card. I never used my credit card for a long time now!
Kuwait debit cards don’t work with Uber. You NEED a credit card or else it won’t work.
Used Uber on a couple of trips, was especially useful in NYC during the holidays in certain areas and it was extremely fast and reliable….even in peak traffic, our pick up was in 1-3 mins….and dont have to deal in cash, LOVE IT!!! Hope they bring it here….
I know Easy Taxi may be coming to Kuwait soon. There were some vacancies posted online a while ago.
Support a GCC based competitor “Careem” https://www.careem.com/dubai/ignition
Better cars/service/drivers.
Even though I like Uber and using it all the time in the US and Europe but I don’t think its a good idea in kuwait. 1st because of the traffic and 2nd there are a lot of taxis in kuwait. What we really need is a better regulations to control the taxi and taxi drivers here. The biggest hurdle is that most taxis are owned by high ranked ppl who work in the ministry of interior or retired from the ministry but still have their connections. I don’t think those ppl will allow Uber anytime soon. Unless Uber will be owned by one of them then and only then you will see Uber here.