Jeddah residents and visitors now have reprieve from their daily commuting woes as Uber, the international smartphone app that seamlessly connects passengers with a private driver, officially launches its lower cost option uberX in the city today. The new product promises to deliver safe, convenient, and reliable transportation services in Jeddah.
uberX has completed a five-month pilot phase with app-using riders trialing the service and providing valuable feedback and insights before today’s full launch of the service. uberX nowmakes it even easier to commute across the city during times when traffic is at a peak and whenever and wherever there are limited parking options.
Anthony Khoury –Manager, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Middle East Expansion, said: “It’s official, uberX has arrived in Jeddah! We’re proud to be able to give Jeddah’s residents and visitors another choice in transportation around the city, especially as traffic picks up again after the summer break. We’ve been testing the service for a few months now, and the response has been incredible. The community is really loving how safe and easy it is to use the technology. We will continue to monitor the marketplace to ensure that we are offering the Jeddah community more choice and more value when it comes to their daily transportation needs, as well as doing our part in contributing to the smooth flow of business and economic growth in the city and indeed the Kingdom.”
uberX is one of Uber’s products that connects riders with licensed drivers by partnering with the existing supply of transportation providers in Jeddah. Any person who needs a ride should simply download the free Uber app at uber.com/app onto their smartphone (iPhone, Android, Windows Phone, Blackberry) or sign up atuber.com/goto request a private-hire car at an affordable price. The process is very simple and is completed in a matter of minutes. When a passenger requests a car, the driver name and license plate number shows up as well his location on the map. Riders can share their estimated time of arrival and route with family as well, all through the technology built into the app. All payments are done via the riders’ credit cards, making the experience even more seamless.
In addition to providing more choice for consumers, Uber also aims to help transportation providers grow their business by making drivers’ time more efficient.
Uber is already present in over 200 cities in 45 countries, including Riyadh and Jeddah in the Kingdom.
What to expect when you request a ride:
| Pricing | Price Example: | Car types | |
| uberX | Base Fare: SAR6.5
Minimum Fare: SAR 15 Fare per km: SAR1.6 Fare per Min: SAR 0.7 |
SAR40 from Tahliah to King Abdulaziz International Airport | Ford Taurus
Chevrolet Impala Toyota Camry |
| *may vary based on traffic and trip duration | |||