The survey reveals that Egyptian transit riders want an integrated system that allows booking trips and payments across different mobility options through a single digital platform.
The Future of Urban Mobility Survey polled over 11,500 commuters in 12 countries including Egypt aimed to understand existing transit habits and future preferences.
In Egypt, 36 percent of respondents currently rely on public transportation as their primary mode of transport. They use it mostly for leisure activities (56 percent) and work commutes (46 percent).
However, the fragmented nature of booking and payments is clearly unsatisfying. A whopping 72 percent of Egyptian respondents said they currently juggle four or more payment methods to get around.
"Public transport plays a vital role in how people travel within Egypt, whether it is for work or leisure. By breaking down barriers and integrating services, public transit services can empower individuals regardless of age, ability, or socioeconomic status," said Malak El-Baba, Egypt’s Visa manager.
Having a unified system could drive more transit usage. Over half or 55 percent would tend to try different options if payments were integrated.
Nearly half or 47 percent said they would use transit more days per week, the survey showed.
The survey offered insights for policymakers on modernizing Egypt's mobility networks. It suggested that features like capping daily or monthly fares (favoured by 52 percent) and reducing travel times (a priority for 40 percent) could entice more drivers to leave their cars at home.
By tapping into emerging payment technologies, Egypt has an opportunity to provide commuters with the seamless, hassle-free transit journeys they increasingly demand.
e-Payment has made great leaps in Egypt in recent years, including transport, as global ride-hailing companies such as Uber and Didi entered the market.
Egypt has invested EGP 50 billion in digital transformation projects, Minister of Telecommunications and Information Technology Amr Talaat said in October 2022.
The Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) announced in April that financial inclusion rates improved between 2016 and 2022 by 147 percent.
In 2022, the CBE launched its financial inclusion strategy for 2022-2025 which sets key objectives and priorities for creating financial inclusion in the country.
Short link: