Introduction and Guide to Ride-Hailing Apps in Egypt
Introduction and Guide to Ride-Hailing Apps in Egypt
Currently, there are five ride-hailing apps available in Egypt, but not all of them are usable in every city. Below is a table summarizing the availability of these apps in major tourist cities:
As Cairo is Egypt's capital, all five apps are available there. Alexandria, being the second-largest city, supports all apps except for Bolt.
Here’s a brief introduction and comparison of the five apps:
Uber A globally recognized ride-hailing platform. Based on my experience in Cairo, while the conditions of the drivers and vehicles across platforms are fairly similar, Uber generally has slightly better vehicle conditions.
Careem A widely-used platform in the Middle East, which was later acquired by Uber. The user experience is very similar to Uber.
inDrive The unique feature of this app is that passengers can make an offer, and the system provides an estimated price. You can increase your offer, and the driver can also propose a price. Both parties negotiate and accept the price. Only cash payments are accepted.
Bolt Introduced in Egypt in 2024, currently only available in Cairo. The number of cars is limited, making it harder to get a ride. However, it is the cheapest option.
Didi The largest ride-hailing platform in China. Generally, its fares are slightly cheaper than Uber, although occasionally, it can have higher fares than Uber.
Based on my personal experience (mainly in Cairo), the user experience is generally similar across all five apps. The common issues arise with the drivers and vehicles, as can be expected in Egypt's ride-hailing ecosystem.
Fares: Uber, Careem, and Didi are about the same, depending on the time of day and traffic conditions. Didi is usually a little cheaper. inDrive tends to be the most expensive (although it shows an estimated price, the driver can increase their bid, and the actual fare is typically higher). Bolt, being the newest to the market, offers the cheapest rates, but getting a ride is more difficult.
Vehicle Condition: Uber generally has slightly better vehicles, but overall, the conditions are similar across all apps.
Availability of Rides: The availability depends largely on the pickup location and time. However, generally speaking, inDrive tends to have the best availability (if you're open to paying higher bids from drivers, though it’s harder to find rides if you stick to the estimated price). Uber and Careem are somewhat easier to book than Didi (but the difference is small). Bolt is the hardest to get a ride from.
Possible Situations You May Encounter While Booking a Ride (All five apps' drivers may have these issues):
Drivers Only Accept Cash: Some drivers may inquire or request this through the app or via phone. Many drivers prefer cash because it’s more convenient for fuel. If you opt for card payments, you may encounter ride cancellations. If you're okay with cash, no problem. If you insist on paying with a card, you may need to wait for a driver willing to accept that.
Drivers May Ask for High-Dollar Payments: You can simply reject and cancel the ride to order another one.
Pay Attention to the Route: Always keep an eye on the route to ensure the driver isn’t taking a detour. The final fare is based on the actual route and traffic conditions. If a driver takes a long detour, the final fare may exceed the estimated cost. If this happens, avoid arguing with the driver, as your safety and time are more important. You can file a complaint through the app (both Uber and Didi offer this option).
Difficult to Get a Ride in Certain Areas: In busy areas with heavy traffic, such as the Khan El Khalili Market, it’s often very hard to get a ride. In these cases, regular taxis are a great alternative. They're easy to hail and often more accessible. This is why I believe ride-hailing apps cannot completely replace traditional taxis, especially when time is tight or you're in an area where getting a ride is difficult. While traditional taxis require you to negotiate fares, you can check the estimated fare on the app beforehand to get an idea of the pricing (similar to how inDrive works, but one is via the app and the other is verbally negotiated). During heavy traffic, taxis may charge higher fares, but the time saved can make it worthwhile.
In conclusion, using ride-hailing apps in Egypt is very convenient and highly recommended. However, I suggest using them during free time when you're not visiting major attractions. The four possible issues mentioned earlier can be time-consuming, and while they aren’t major problems, they may cause delays. If a driver cancels for cash payments or asks for a high fare, you will have to wait for another driver. If the driver takes a detour, the fare will likely increase, and more importantly, precious sightseeing time could be wasted.
Additionally, chartered drivers are usually more familiar with the routes and may have the necessary travel documents for intercity travel. If you're using ride-hailing apps, you might be stopped at checkpoints, and this could be resolved by tipping the checkpoint guards. Some drivers may also take longer routes to avoid checkpoints.
For travelers on a tight schedule, I recommend chartered transportation during sightseeing, while using ride-hailing apps during free time. However, if you have plenty of time and don’t mind spending some extra time waiting for rides, the apps work just fine.
I hope this information helps those visiting Egypt!
