Meet your Uber driver

Born in Faiyum – 100 kilometers southwest of Cairo – Ola Hamdy Saleh is currently living in the Faisal district of Giza. She has been working as an Uber driver in Cairo for more than a year now, dedicating 12 hours a day and seven days a week to the job, so she knows the city inside and out. Here, she spills the beans about Cairo’s best-known spots and some of its lesser-known attractions.

I’m 51 years old, born in Faiyum and I am single. I’ve worked for Uber for more than a year. I have never turned down a ride, and I usually drop my riders off anywhere they want. Though I drive someone else’s car for Uber, my work means everything to me.

I was a driving instructor and used to work for driving schools across the city. When I first heard about Uber, I made up my mind to become an Uber driver. That was back in September of 2017.

They have really good clients. Credibility for Uber is their best currency. It’s an honor and a privilege to work with such a large company. They provide fantastic self-employment opportunities for their driver-partners. It’s great to be an Uber driver and work flexible hours, I am totally in charge of my own time.

Sobhy Kaber at 151 Obaid Street in Shoubra, for sure. It offers delicious, authentic food. I am a very well-known client there; the waiters at the restaurant usually call me “Mrs Ola from Uber.” If you’re a tourist visiting Cairo and you haven’t been to Sobhy Kaber before, it’s like you haven’t been to Cairo!

I really love Sayeda Zainab and Al-Hussein. These key mosques are iconic and have been a site of pilgrimage for Egyptians and Muslims in general for many years. They reflect our Egyptian and Islamic identity, especially with their rich history and architectural quality. These places are ingrained in Egyptian culture.

Definitely, the Nile Corniche and the 1932-meter-long Qasr El-Nile Bridge. I’m always fascinated by the boats afloat on the Nile at night. The river water usually reflects the glow of the city lights. A short motorboat ride should make you forget Cairo’s infamous traffic.

Wikala al-Suhaymi, just next to Bayt Al-Suhaymi (House of Suhaymi) – an old house that is now a museum and dates back to the Ottoman era in old Cairo. It is a restaurant and coffee shop that many Egyptians know nothing about. Here you’ll be surrounded by Islamic-style architecture and enjoy oriental music and songs. Whether you like the Arabian-themed decorations, are searching for a fun place to throw a birthday party, or planning a romantic dinner with your partner, it is a fantastic place to visit.

Not at all! They show tremendous respect for women. In their view, I am a woman trying to make a living as an Uber driver. That’s why they have more respect for me.