Our commitment: Putting the driver forward

Over the last 12 months, we’ve spent a lot of time listening and engaging to what over 50 thousand drivers in Egypt care about when using the Uber app. With the rapid uptake of our technology that we have seen here in Egypt since 2014, 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 what they need. Based on those discussions, over the next months, we will be rolling out products that can address three keys areas: more flexibility for drivers when it comes to when they want to use Uber, using our technology to create a stress-free experience, and building on safety.

Yesterday, we presented to a number of top drivers a series of changes we will be making to our technology, starting with nine products they have asked for. These include:

What does this mean for drivers? Let me give you an example. When Iman takes her kids to school every morning, she has a few hours until she picks them up again. She can turn on the Uber app and accept a few trips from Uber riders and when she needs to head back towards the school, she can use the “Arrival Destination and Time” feature to input the school address and at what time she needs to be there so whatever final rider she picks up is also heading in that direction. This ensures she gets to where she needs to be, while benefitting from doing one more trip. Or take for example, driver Mohamed Anwar, 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. Finally, “Driver share trip” allows for all drivers to feel safer when going into neighborhoods they may not know as well by sharing their route with family and friends so they know exactly where they are – just like riders can through their app.

But this is only the start.

For the first time in the Middle East, we have also launched the “Platinum” loyalty program for the most dedicated, highest rated drivers in Cairo. Drivers that have been doing a certain number of trips per month whilst maintaining a high rating will be granted access to benefits that include discounts on car maintenance, vehicle accessories such as tyres and batteries and vehicle insurance. Qualified drivers will also have access to special mobile data bundles and fast track support at the Partner Driver Support Centre in Cairo.

We are excited about this next chapter for Uber Egypt and will continue to provide additional updates as we roll out the rest of this program. And, of course, most importantly I would like to use this opportunity to thank the tens of thousands of drivers that have made Uber Egypt one of the most successful countries globally. We would not be here if it was not for their continued dedication to their service, our team and the Uber brand. This is a promise to all of them that we will continue to be a partner to them and work to make their lives better along this journey.

By Tino Waked, Egypt GM