Uber Qatar Explores Offering Bus and Carpooling Services

Uber Rider

In anticipation of the FIFA World Cup 2022, Nasser Al Sharshani, Country Manager of Uber Qatar, has confirmed that Uber is exploring the launch of Uber Bus and UberPool services.

According to Al Sharshani, the ride-hailing company - dubbed the largest mobility platform in the world - launched new products as part of its short and long-term plans for the Qatari market at the Smart City Expo Doha 2022.

“We’re currently discussing and exploring launching a couple of products during the World Cup, such as the Uber Bus and UberPool, where we are encouraging transport efficiency through mass transportation and shared transportation. This is in the short-term. When it comes to the long-term, launching UberGreen or transition to electric vehicles (EVs) is definitely one of the key objectives that we are exploring with key stakeholders here,” said Al Sharshani.

Both Uber Bus and UberPool are currently two of the most affordable ways to commute in several countries around the world. The carpooling service matches riders with others traveling in the same direction to get a cheaper fare, while the bus booking service lets riders reserve their seats on a bus that frequently runs along popular routes.

According to industry reports, over 31 million riders have taken Uber rides in the Middle East since the company launched there.

“One of the key pillars for the Qatar National Vision 2030 is sustainability. And one of the key initiatives the Ministry of Transportation has been working on is to fully electrify the public transportation with the first milestone before the World Cup 2022. When it comes to us Uber Qatar, definitely launching EVs is one of the key objectives we are exploring. This allows a rider to select an electric vehicle for his or her trip”. Al Sharshani explained Uber Qatar's long-term plans in Qatar.
Uber Green is a low-emission ride option that connects riders with hybrid and fully electric vehicles. Al Sharshani said there are several Middle Eastern countries with Uber drivers who have already transitioned to EVs, and the results are promising.

“The EVs’ kilometres driven in the Middle East have more than doubled in the last few years from 2 percent to 5 percent. If we look at other cities around the world, Amsterdam stands at 4.7 percent, while London stands at 7.5 percent. It is a significant improvement and progress in our region, and we strongly believe our region definitely has more potential for green investment,” added Al Sharshani.
In addition, Nasser Al Sharshani reiterated Uber's commitment to become a zero-emission mobility platform by 2040 by launching UberGreen in hundreds of major cities around the globe.

He said: “One of the most important parts of our job is to help drivers transition to EVs. In multiple parts of the world, we have worked on several partnerships to help drivers with this transition. We are also committing to invest $800m in the next five years to drive this change. But we strongly believe there is no single player, public or private entity that can drive this change alone. We all need to cooperate effectively across the ecosystem.

“We need progressive policies to make it easier and more affordable for drivers to transition to EVs. There are multiple policies that can be implemented, such as through subsidies and incentives, or investments in public infrastructure and charging infrastructure in particular. Also, well established partnerships to provide financing for EVs adoption is a key element in the entire process. So having a positive, forward looking regulatory framework is a key enabler to the transition to electrical mobility,” Al Sharshani added.