Uber looks to cover 50% of Egypt’s governorates this year – COO

Uber on Monday said it was looking to spread its ride-hailing service over 50 percent of Egypt’s governorates this year.

Zagazig and Hurghada will be the first two cities in the U.S. ride-hailing company’s expansion plan for Egypt this year, said Uber’s chief operating officer Barney Harford.

Uber currently operates in Cairo, Alexandria, Damanhur, Mansoura, and Tanta.

Egypt is one of Uber’s fastest growing markets in the world, Harford said. In 2017, there were around 150,000 Egyptian drivers working on the platform, and 40 percent of them were unemployed before joining Uber, the official added.

There are 4 million users having used the service since its launch there in 2014.

The San Francisco-based company said last year it was committed to Egypt despite challenges presented by sweeping economic reforms and record inflation. In October Uber announced a $20 million investment in its new support center in Cairo.

It has had to make deals with local car dealerships to provide its drivers with affordable vehicles and adjust its ride prices to ensure its workers were not hit too hard by inflation.