Over 31 Million People Used Uber in Middle East Since its Launch

The logo for Uber Technologies is seen on a vehicle in Manhattan, New York City, New York, US, November 17, 2021. (Reuters)
The logo for Uber Technologies is seen on a vehicle in Manhattan, New York City, New York, US, November 17, 2021. (Reuters)
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Over 31 Million People Used Uber in Middle East Since its Launch

The logo for Uber Technologies is seen on a vehicle in Manhattan, New York City, New York, US, November 17, 2021. (Reuters)
The logo for Uber Technologies is seen on a vehicle in Manhattan, New York City, New York, US, November 17, 2021. (Reuters)

Uber, the global taxi-hailing app, revealed on Sunday that over 31 million riders took trips using the app since its launch in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region.

According to the “Uber MENA: 2021 in Numbers” report, 703,000 drivers in Egypt, 530,000 in Saudi Arabia and 18,000 in the UAE made trips since the service was launched.

It said 2021 continued to be “dramatically shaped by the ever-evolving global pandemic.”

“As everyone adapted to this new normal, people continued to use Uber in all different ways to suit their changing needs - whether it be from their homes, on their holidays, at their place of work, and everywhere in between.”

The roll out of vaccines and relaxing of some restrictions over the course of the year meant that international travel became an option again for many, the report read, noting that the app saw an increase in the number of people commuting into offices and places of work again.

It revealed some of its key travel trends from 2021.

The year’s number one rider was from Saudi Arabia and topped the charts with an impressive 1,706 trips in 2021 - taking on average four trips a day.

Drivers have been busy too, it stressed, noting that the top drivers made thousands of trips through the app, such as 7,613 in the Kingdom’s Eastern Province, 6,978 in Cairo, and 4,244 in Dubai.

Meanwhile, Uber Bus reached another milestone and witnessed growth of 2.4% compared to 2020 as it continued to facilitate affordable trips for commuters across Cairo.

The report underscored Uber’s role in supporting the community through the coronavirus pandemic, as riders have taken more than 126,355 free or discounted trips through the app to and from COVID-19 vaccination centers.

Tourist hot spots in the Middle East were popular trip destinations. The Boulevard in Riyadh is considered one of the top destinations in the Kingdom. Dubai's Burj Khalifa, the tallest building in the world, was also popular, racking up 319,596 trips, as well as the Great Pyramids of Giza in Egypt with 14,747 trips.



Saudi Arabia Stockpiles Surplus Oil Production to Face Global Crises

Employees at Aramco (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Employees at Aramco (Asharq Al-Awsat)
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Saudi Arabia Stockpiles Surplus Oil Production to Face Global Crises

Employees at Aramco (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Employees at Aramco (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi Arabia has long followed a clear and transparent approach to preserving stability in global energy markets. Historically, it has consistently adhered to all decisions issued by the OPEC+ alliance and played a leading role alongside other producers to ensure compliance and promote the collective good.

Recently, the Kingdom briefly increased production volumes. However, the additional output was neither marketed domestically nor exported abroad. Instead, it was directed as a precautionary measure to strengthen strategic reserves, improve supply flows between the country’s eastern and western regions, and rebalance stocks held in overseas storage facilities.

Asharq Al-Awsat reached out to energy specialists to understand the significance of this move for energy security. Experts explained that building strategic reserves allows Saudi Arabia to respond swiftly to customer needs in the event of political crises, regional wars, adverse weather, or other unforeseen disruptions.

Fouad Al-Zayer, former head of data services at OPEC and an energy expert, said the Kingdom maintains millions of barrels in storage both inside and outside its borders. These reserves serve as a buffer during emergencies, enabling the country to compensate for supply shortfalls within a short timeframe. He emphasized that this stored crude is strategically critical in the face of geopolitical tensions and conflicts.

According to Al-Zayer, Saudi Arabia relies on an extraordinary reserve capacity unmatched by any other producer. The country currently produces more than 9 million barrels per day, with the capability to pump even higher volumes if needed. He noted that Saudi reserves alone account for 3 million barrels per day out of roughly 5 million barrels in global spare capacity, underscoring Riyadh’s central role in stabilizing markets and upholding its commitments under OPEC+ agreements.

He added that Saudi Arabia also hosts the International Energy Forum, which works to improve data quality and transparency in the sector. In June, the Kingdom’s output reached about 9 million barrels per day, with the modest increase attributed to logistical considerations. Al-Zayer stressed that it is common for producers to temporarily boost production to support maintenance operations or replenish storage, without impacting the broader market, since these barrels are not immediately traded.

He reiterated that Saudi Arabia has always honored OPEC+ production targets and has played a pivotal role in encouraging other members to meet their quotas.

Meanwhile, Dr. Mohammed Al-Sabban, former senior adviser to the Saudi Minister of Petroleum, explained that the Kingdom has consistently proven itself a reliable and secure supplier to global energy markets. He noted that Saudi Arabia’s recent statement clarified the reasons behind the June production uptick, emphasizing that the additional oil was neither destined for local consumption nor for export but was solely intended to refill domestic and foreign storage. He said such measures do not represent any breach of commitments, unlike the practices of some other countries.

Al-Sabban pointed out that Saudi Arabia has often gone beyond required cuts to help stabilize markets. Even the recent production increases, he said, fall within the scope of voluntary adjustments agreed upon by OPEC+ members. He noted that in July, Saudi Arabia raised production in line with credible studies indicating the market could absorb these volumes without disruption.