Uber and Takamol Partner to Empower Working Saudi Women

Uber has announced a strategic partnership with “Takamol Holding”, which operates Wusool, a program developed by Human Resources Development Fund (HRDF).

The goal of the partnership is to enable working women in Saudi Arabia overcome transportation challenges to and from the workplace by providing affordable, subsidized transportation solutions and encouraging women’s contribution towards the country’s socio-economic progress, in line with the goals and objectives of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.

Commenting on the announcement, Pierre-Dimitri Gore-Coty, VP & Regional General Manager EMEA, Uber said: “Uber is a conscientious company that strives to uplift the communities it operates in.

“We are expanding exponentially within the Middle East and North Africa region, with Saudi Arabia being one of our fastest-growing markets.

“At Uber, we will continue supporting the government’s focus on Saudization and the Saudi Vision 2030, which aims to increase women’s participation in the workforce”.

“Through this partnership with Takamol Holding for “Wusool”, which is Uber’s largest subsidised transport program globally, we are able to provide women with the opportunity to achieve their professional ambitions.”

Uber Gives Boost to Women Drivers in Saudi Arabia

Commenting on the announcement, Dr. Ahmed Al Yamani, CEO Takamol stated: “We are delighted to announce our partnership with Uber, a leader in the ride-hailing industry.

“This partnership will provide Saudi women with access to transportation solutions to and from their workplace, which falls under one of the strategic objectives of Saudi Vision 2030, that aims to enable members of the community to enter the workforce and bolster it under the National Transformation Program.

“Approximately 25,000 women currently benefit from the program and we aim for more to join them by the end of the year 2019.”

Saudi-women between the ages of 18 and 65 can apply to the program through Taqat - the National Labor gateway managed by the HRDF, based on the eligibility criteria to receive partially subsidised “Wusool” rides on the Uber application in the Kingdom.

Applicants must be working in the private sector and earning an income of up to a maximum of SAR 8,000 per month.

The partnership is aligned with Uber’s Masaruky ("your path" in Arabic) initiative, which is committed to enhancing women’s mobility in the Kingdom.

As part of the “Masaruky” initiative, Uber pledged SAR 1 million to support select women through driving schools.

Most recently, Uber has announced the launch of a feature which enables women drivers on Uber to select a preference for women riders, a feature only available in Saudi and a global first for Uber.

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