Ride hailing company Uber has launched an intercity bus service in Egypt that is accessible through its mobile app, the company announced on Sunday.
The bus service will launch with roundtrip routes between Cairo and Alexandria, with plans to expand to connect other governorates over the coming months, Uber said.
The service operates seven days a week with eight journeys per day. Riders can pre-book their trips through the app.
The route provides up to nine pick-up and drop off points across Cairo and Alexandria and the service is available on the Uber app under ‘Bus routes’ in the menu bar, or when selecting the trip destination, Uber clarified.The company said in a statement that it chose Egypt to be the first country globally to roll out the new service, which is part of Uber’s quest to adapt its technology to develop a wide range of products that meet the needs of local markets.
It added that Uber seeks to expand its presence in the Egyptian market with a safe and affordable ride after the easing of COVID-19 lockdown measures.
“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 means of transporting users between governorates. As we continue to invest in the Egyptian market, we remain committed to broadening our product range to provide convenient transportation solutions within and across cities,” Uber Egypt’s General Manager Ahmed Khalil said.
Meanwhile, the company stressed that intercity buses will follow COVID-19 safety measures, where riders and drivers are required to wear facemasks during trips. Maximum seating capacity has also been reduced to encourage physical distancing between riders, and sanitiser dispensers have been installed in all the buses.
The launch of the service is an extension of Uber’s 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 El-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, the company said.
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