Over the past months we have spent a lot of time listening to what drivers in Dubai care about and what’s top of their minds when using the Uber app. With the rapid uptake of our technology that we have seen here in the UAE since 2013, it has been our priority to continue building on our technology and our driver offerings so that we provide drivers with the best experience while using Uber.

The feedback we got was monumental and drivers have been very clear on the type of changes they need to improve their experience in using the Uber app. Based on those discussions, over the next few months we will be rolling out products that can address three keys areas: Flexibility, Efficiency, and Earnings. As a direct result of this, we’re now keen to show that listening can lead to actions.

To start, we will be rolling out a series of new products which drivers have asked for. These include:

  • Arrival Destination & Time: Drivers can now set their own personal arrival destination and time so that when accepting a trip, they can still get where they need to be even while dropping a rider off on the way – allowing for more flexibility to when they have time to use the Uber app and allows them to make a little extra money on the way.
  • Long trip notification: Drivers will now get a heads-up when a trip is estimated to be 60 minutes or longer, so they have the information they need to fit driving around their life, and not the other way around.
  • Paid waiting time – Long wait times can be stressful for drivers. By the time they arrive at the pick-up location, the driver has already invested time and effort in getting to a rider, so now we are ensuring they get paid while they wait, after a grace period for the rider.
  • In App Chat – The aim of this technology is to make the pick-up experience as frictionless as possible, both for the rider and the driver. Streamlining the whole experience, the In-App Chat allows drivers and riders to coordinate the pick-up faster, since there’s no need to switch between apps to get in touch. For drivers, chats are read aloud and one tap to the app will send a “thumbs up” confirmation to their rider ensure they can stay focused on the road.

What does this mean for drivers? For example, When Imran wakes up the morning, he logs in to the Uber app and takes trips, and closer to the time he wants to head home, he can use the “Arrival Destination and Time” feature to input the home address and at what time he needs to be there so whatever final rider he picks up is also heading in that direction. This ensures he gets to where he needs to be, while benefitting from doing one more trip.

Or take for example, driver Arif, who has been driving for quite some time that day and wants to end his time on Uber in the next hour so. “Long trip notification” allows for him to know in advance if the next trip will be more than 60 minutes so that he can choose to accept it or it goes to the next available driver.

That’s not all; the health and wellbeing of drivers using the app is a priority for us, which is why we are partnering with Zulekha Hospital to offer free cardiac checks to drivers across the Emirate.

As well as undergoing a set of tests including an electrocardiogram (ECG), echocardiogram or stress test (treadmill test) and a consultation with a specialist, each driver will also be checked for any evidence of existing heart disease and offered helpful advice about positive lifestyle changes. Drivers will be able to take these tests at one of Zulekha Hospitals’ two facilities in Dubai and Sharjah.

But this is only the start. Over the next months we will aim to launch even more products which can improve the driving experience. We’re committed to change, and to continuously improving the overall experience on the app.

We will continue to listen to both drivers and riders on further improvements we can make. More changes are on the way – watch this space.

 

Chris Free

UAE General Manager