Uber launches its intercity bus service in Egypt

CAIRO – 20 July 2020: Uber announced Sunday the launch of its latest intercity Bus service in Egypt to be the first country globally to roll out a new service, aiming to connect cities together using the Uber app. 

It clarified that the launch comes as part of Uber’s continuous efforts to adapt its technology to build a wide range of products that meet the needs of local markets. 

“Following the Covid-19 lockdown period, Uber is excited to continue expanding its presence in Egypt with a safe and affordable ride,” it added.

“We are honored to witness another global product launch from Egypt, especially following the last few tense months across the country and the world. Egypt is an innovation hub and a fantastic environment for testing new products. By leveraging Uber’s technology, the new intercity service will introduce a convenient setting to move users between governorates. As we continue to invest in the Egyptian market, we remain committed to broaden our product range to provide convenient transportation solutions within and across cities,” commented Ahmed Khalil, General Manager of Uber Egypt.

According to the statement, the Bus intercity service will launch with roundtrip routes between Cairo and Alexandria, with plans to expand to connect other governorates over the coming months. The service operates 7 days a week, with 8 journeys per day. For the convenience of frequent travelers, riders can also pre-book their trips through the app. The route provides up to 9 pick up and drop off points across Cairo and Alexandria. The service is available on the Uber app under ‘Bus routes’ in the menu bar, or when selecting the trip destination.

Uber noted that , intercity buses will follow Uber’s COVID-19 safety measures, where riders and drivers are required to wear face masks during trips, maximum seating capacity has been reduced to encourage physical distancing between riders, and sanitizer dispensers have been installed in all the buses.

It added that the launch of the intercity service is an extension to the current intracity service that provides daily commuting within Cairo, which was launched in December 2018 as a global-first as well, in response to President Al-Sisi’s request for an affordable mass transportation product. Following its success in Egypt, Uber Bus has expanded to Ukraine and Mexico in 2019 as a transportation solution that addresses the need for low-cost services.