Uber launches all-women ride option in Saudi Arabia to boost female drivers

New Uber feature lets women riders book other drivers; community support programs launched

Last updated: July 14, 2025 | 17:57

2 MIN READ

The initiative comes seven years after the Kingdom lifted the ban on women driving.

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Dubai: Ride-hailing giant Uber has introduced a new ride option in Saudi Arabia that allows women riders to be matched exclusively with female drivers, as part of broader efforts to increase women’s participation in the workforce and the mobility sector.

The initiative comes seven years after the Kingdom lifted the ban on women driving, and follows Uber’s continued investment in localised programs to support Saudi Vision 2030 goals.

The new feature, called Women Drivers, functions like the standard UberX service and will be gradually rolled out to riders across the country in the coming weeks. It enables women to either book on-demand trips or schedule them up to 30 minutes in advance using Uber Reserve.

“The launch of the ‘Women Drivers’ product reflects our commitment to empowering women and supporting their mobility and economic independence,” said Youssef Abouseif, General Manager of Uber in Saudi Arabia. “We’re giving women more choice, more opportunity, and a stronger sense of community.”

Also Read: Uber to create 30,000 jobs in Saudi Arabia in self-driving push

Uber’s track record in Saudi Arabia

Uber is also launching Saudi Arabia’s first-ever GigSister event — a community-focused program offering a platform for female drivers to connect, share experiences, and build a local support network.

In parallel, the company has partnered with Alnahda Society, a non-profit organisation focused on empowering women economically and socially. The collaboration includes capacity-building initiatives like financial literacy training, aiming to equip women with skills that could lead to economic independence, including driving for Uber.

The new initiative builds on Uber’s previous collaboration with Alnahda through the Masaruky program, which helped thousands of women gain driver’s licenses and access mobility-based jobs.

Uber has rolled out several female-focused services in Saudi Arabia in recent years, including:

Wusool, which has facilitated over 20 million subsidised rides for women
Women Rider Preference, allowing female drivers to exclusively accept women riders

These efforts aim to increase women’s workforce participation while offering greater comfort and flexibility for both drivers and riders.

Justin VargheseYour Money Editor

Justin is a personal finance author and seasoned business journalist with over a decade of experience. He makes it his mission to break down complex financial topics and make them clear, relatable, and relevant—helping everyday readers navigate today’s economy with confidence. Before returning to his Middle Eastern roots, where he was born and raised, Justin worked as a Business Correspondent at Reuters, reporting on equities and economic trends across both the Middle East and Asia-Pacific regions.