Uber will launch its new "female drivers" service in Saudi Arabia within weeks, allowing female passengers to book rides exclusively with female drivers, the company announced on July 14.

The announcement came during a special event organised by the company in Riyadh titled "By Women, For Women", which also saw the launch of the first "Gig Sister" programme event in Saudi Arabia, an initiative aimed at building a supportive community for female drivers.

The service launch coincides with the seventh anniversary of the 2018 decision that allowed women to drive cars in Saudi Arabia. The new service will be rolled out gradually in major Saudi cities over the coming weeks.

"Women across Saudi Arabia have shown how mobility can open new doors of opportunity," said Youssef Abu Saif, general manager of Uber Saudi Arabia.

The new feature allows female customers to select female drivers for their trips, either on-demand or through advance booking. The service appears in the app's mini-menu with prices similar to "Uber X", with booking available through the "Uber Reserve" feature for customers who prefer advance planning.

Uber was founded in 2010 and has since expanded to numerous countries worldwide, completing 58bn trips. The company, alongside apps such as Careem, Jeeny, Bolt and other delivery platforms, has helped reshape the urban passenger transport sector.

The female driver service represents Uber's latest effort to adapt its platform to local market needs and cultural preferences in Saudi Arabia.

The new service in Saudi Arabia follows other regional countries including Iran and Iraq where female drivers have become commonplace often for women with no spouse in those countries.

According to Uber's 2023 Economic Impact Report for Saudi Arabia, Uber contributed SAR 1.1 billion (about $293mn) to the Saudi economy in 2023. 

One international company, Statista, suggests market forecast project that Saudi Arabia’s ride-hailing market will reach almost $953mn in revenue in 2025.