Uber marks first year in Dubai with the launch of two new services

-uberX and Uber for Business launched to complement UberBLACK
-Phenomenal global growth mirrored in the Middle East as smart consumers embrace on-demand technology that unites driver and rider

Mobilk - Uber, the international smartphone app that seamlessly connects riders with a private driver, today celebrates its first year of operations in Dubai with the launch of two new services. The company announced that its more affordable option uberX and its corporate account service Uber for Business have now been added to its Dubai portfolio to complement the luxury UberBLACK service which arrived in Dubai 12 months ago. 

"The UAE really is the model nation for Uber in the region – with a smart city government that not only welcomes but actively fosters innovation technology, as well as being home to a population of tech-savvy, cosmopolitan consumers seeking convenience and mobility. Having been welcomed and championed by our riders and our partner drivers in Dubai, we have gone on to launch in Abu Dhabi, Jeddah, Riyadh, Doha and Beirut – and are now looking at new Uber destinations across the region," says JP Mondalek, Ubers general manager for the UAE.

"We are excited and proud to mark the first year of our operations in the Middle East – having chosen Dubai as the launch city for the region. What better way to celebrate our birthday than with the addition of two new Uber services for Dubai – uberX and Uber for Business, designed to meet the evolving and diverse demands of our fast growing customer and partner base," adds Mondalek.

Since launching Dubai in September 2013, Uber has experienced phenomenal growth.  The rate of growth in the region has intensified over the past month – launching in Beirut with its luxury UberBLACK service and bringing the lower cost uberX to Abu Dhabi and Jeddah within the last four weeks. The speed of growth in the Middle East mirrors the companys global journey. Last month, Uber announced it had passed the 200 city mark with simultaneous launches in 24 new markets – just four months after it had reached the #Uber100 milestone. Dubai was the 44th city to launch globally.

Ubers success in the Middle East, expanding to six cities within a year, speaks volumes of its strategy to promote better business opportunities for the transportation providers they partner with.  "The Uber platform allows greater flexibility for drivers to work as and when they want, making their time more efficient," says Mondalek.  "At the same time, we have a growing number of customers who have expressed how pleased they are with the prompt, safe and reliable service they get from Uber and our partners."

 uberX

In the smart city of Dubai, easy access to transportation is a major plus and Uber has been helping commuters in Dubai to get their way around easily and comfortably for the last year. Initially, Uber brought its UberBLACK service offering luxury on-demand rides to the citys passengers, and now uberX is officially in Dubai offering the same convenient, efficient, safe ride for a more affordable price - making the Uber technology more accessible to more people. uberX is one of Ubers products that connects riders with licensed drivers by partnering with the existing supply of transportation providers in Dubai. Any person who needs a ride just needs to download the free Uber app onto their smartphone (iPhone, Android, Windows Phone, Blackberry) or sign up at uber.com/go to request a private-hire car at an affordable price, all in a matter of minutes. Just choose uberX within the app and request a ride. All payments are done via riders credit cards, making the experience even more seamless. 

Uber for Business

As Uber grows in the region, the smartphone app company also now offers Uber for Business which provides companies with the option of hiring a car for their employees in their own city or when travelling for work in other Uber destinations around the region or around the world. The new offering allows employees who use Uber to bill their trips directly to their company.  A centralized billing system helps administrators, team leads and small business owners by providing trip information in place of receipts and helps employees by connecting with the same safe, reliable ride they are used to without the hassle of having to file expenses. 

What to expect when you request a ride:

 Pricing

Price Example:

Dubai Marina to Dubai Airport Terminal 1*

Car types

uberX

Base Fare: AED8.00

Minimum Fare: AED13

Fare per km: AED1.75

Fare per Min: AED0.30

AED70-89

 

Toyota Previa

Honda Odyssey

Chrysler 300

UberBLACK

 

Base Fare: AED10.00

Minimum Fare: AED20

Fare per km: AED1.90

Fare per Min: AED0.80

AED87-110

 Lexus ES

Audi A6

BMW 5-Series

*may vary based on traffic and trip duration