Saudi ‘Arheb’ Offers Smart Shared Transport Solutions, Preserves Saudi Environment

Arheb application for shared transportation (Photo: Abdullah Al-Falih)
Arheb application for shared transportation (Photo: Abdullah Al-Falih)
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Saudi ‘Arheb’ Offers Smart Shared Transport Solutions, Preserves Saudi Environment

Arheb application for shared transportation (Photo: Abdullah Al-Falih)
Arheb application for shared transportation (Photo: Abdullah Al-Falih)

Saudi Arabia’s “Arheb” transportation platform will connect drivers and passengers wishing to travel together between the country’s governorates and cities, in addition to neighboring Gulf and Arab countries.

Arheb ensures the lowest cost of transportation for users and provides weekly and monthly packages for employees and students at competitive prices.

Arheb is the first ridesharing application in Asia and Africa that offers an integrated carbon footprint calculator.

The application aligns with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s “Saudi Green” initiative, which works to increase Saudi Arabia’s dependence on clean energy, reduce carbon emissions and protect the environment.

“Arheb is a 100 % Saudi application launched from Makkah. It employs 1,800 captains, including 500 women,” said Salem bin Shamekh, general manager of the Arheb Information Technology Company.

“It is considered the giant of shared transportation within cities in Saudi Arabia, and also provides private economic and luxury trips outside the cities,” Shamekh told Asharq Al-Awsat.

“Our prices are very acceptable,” affirmed the general manager.

Arheb provides ridesharing with the lowest seat cost in intercity travel and the cheapest commission in ridesharing applications.

The application offers travels to the UAE, Bahrain, Qatar, Oman, and Jordan.

Prices for trips between Saudi cities start at SAR 19 ($5).

The starting fares for trips from Saudi Arabia to Gulf countries is SAR 19 ($5) as well.

From Riyadh to Doha it costs SAR 99 ($26.4). Prices from Tabuk to Amman, the capital of Jordan, start at SAR 89 ($23.7).

Shamekh revealed that Arheb will be participating in the upcoming Hajj season by providing a fleet of buses as well as shared cars between cities to serve the pilgrims, indicating that the reservation of seats will be through the application directly.



Saudi Trade Surplus Grows to $5.5 Billion in October 2024

The Kingdom's total international trade volume reached SAR164.7 billion ($43.8 billion) in October. Asharq Al-Awsat
The Kingdom's total international trade volume reached SAR164.7 billion ($43.8 billion) in October. Asharq Al-Awsat
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Saudi Trade Surplus Grows to $5.5 Billion in October 2024

The Kingdom's total international trade volume reached SAR164.7 billion ($43.8 billion) in October. Asharq Al-Awsat
The Kingdom's total international trade volume reached SAR164.7 billion ($43.8 billion) in October. Asharq Al-Awsat

Saudi Arabia’s trade balance recorded a 30% monthly growth, achieving a surplus of SAR20.7 billion ($5.5 billion) in October 2024, according to the Kingdom’s recently released global trade bulletin.

This marks an increase of over SAR4 billion ($1.06 billion) from SAR15.9 billion ($4.2 billion) in the previous month of September.

The Kingdom's total international trade volume reached SAR164.7 billion ($43.8 billion) in October, reflecting a 2% growth, amounting to SAR2.5 billion ($690.1 million) compared to nearly SAR162.2 billion ($43.1 billion) in September.

Merchandise exports contributed around SAR92.7 billion ($24.7 billion) to the total trade volume, while imports accounted for nearly SAR72 billion ($19.2 billion).
Non-oil exports in October totaled approximately SAR19.4 billion ($5.1 billion), representing 21% of total exports.

Meanwhile, oil exports amounted to around SAR67.3 billion ($17.9 billion), constituting 72.6% of total exports, and re-exports totaled nearly SAR5.9 billion ($1.5 billion), making up 6.4%.

In a related development, Asian countries, excluding Arab and Islamic nations, remained the top destination for Saudi merchandise exports, accounting for 52.2% of the total, valued at SAR48.4 billion ($12.9 billion).

Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries ranked second with 13.1% of the total, with SAR12.1 billion ($3.2 billion), followed by the European Union with 13%, amounting to SAR12 billion ($3.2 billion).
By individual country, China was the leading destination for Saudi exports in October 2024, representing 16.1% of total exports, amounting to SAR14.9 billion ($3.9 billion).

India ranked second with SAR8.7 billion ($2.3 billion), representing 9.5%, and Japan placed third with SAR8.7 billion ($2.3 billion), representing 9.4%.
Non-oil exports, including re-exports, passed through 33 customs ports via sea, land, and air routes, with a total initial value of SAR25.3 billion ($6.7 billion).

Notably, King Fahd Industrial Port in Jubail recorded the highest value among all transportation ports, handling SAR3.7 billion ($1 billion), or 15% of the total.