Tech
As Saudi Arabia Invests In Uber, Can Women There Finally Drive Cars?
Karen Lawson
First Posted: Jun 04, 2016 08:16 AM EDT
Uber gets a major investor as Saudi Arabia channeled a significant amount of money to the tech start-up.
The New York Times has reported that this is one of the biggest chunks of investment from a single source since the company has started. A total $3.5 billion was given by the Saudi's Public Investment Fund.
However, this also drawn other issues since Saudi Arabia does not allow women to legally drive. While the ban is not stated explicitly, women are generally not allowed to get a driving license; hence, they would not be able to drive in Saudi. Women with foreign driving license are the ones only allowed to do so, while some opt to drive without a license.
One the part of Uber, the company does not restrict women from driving. The start-up recorded about 19 percent of women drivers in 2015, and the statistics is expected to rise as it continues to expand in other parts of the world.
A representative of Uber said that getting Saudi Arabia as one of its biggest investors does not mean limiting women from driving through the app.
In another report, Uber has been keen in expanding its operations. Recently Uber announced that it is planning to invest about $250 million in Middle East alone.
Uber also reported that it now has 395,000 active riders in the Middle East-which is a far cry from its previous record. There are 19,000 drivers to meet the needs and demands in the region.
Sought for a statement, Jill Hazelbaker , Uber spokesperson said to the New York Times: "Of course, we think women should be allowed to drive...In the absence of that, we have been able to provide extraordinary mobility that didn't exist before-and we're incredibly proud of that."
Uber has been a go-to of commuters who want alternatives to other available means of public transportation.
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First Posted: Jun 04, 2016 08:16 AM EDT
Uber gets a major investor as Saudi Arabia channeled a significant amount of money to the tech start-up.
The New York Times has reported that this is one of the biggest chunks of investment from a single source since the company has started. A total $3.5 billion was given by the Saudi's Public Investment Fund.
However, this also drawn other issues since Saudi Arabia does not allow women to legally drive. While the ban is not stated explicitly, women are generally not allowed to get a driving license; hence, they would not be able to drive in Saudi. Women with foreign driving license are the ones only allowed to do so, while some opt to drive without a license.
One the part of Uber, the company does not restrict women from driving. The start-up recorded about 19 percent of women drivers in 2015, and the statistics is expected to rise as it continues to expand in other parts of the world.
A representative of Uber said that getting Saudi Arabia as one of its biggest investors does not mean limiting women from driving through the app.
In another report, Uber has been keen in expanding its operations. Recently Uber announced that it is planning to invest about $250 million in Middle East alone.
Uber also reported that it now has 395,000 active riders in the Middle East-which is a far cry from its previous record. There are 19,000 drivers to meet the needs and demands in the region.
Sought for a statement, Jill Hazelbaker , Uber spokesperson said to the New York Times: "Of course, we think women should be allowed to drive...In the absence of that, we have been able to provide extraordinary mobility that didn't exist before-and we're incredibly proud of that."
Uber has been a go-to of commuters who want alternatives to other available means of public transportation.
See Now: NASA's Juno Spacecraft's Rendezvous With Jupiter's Mammoth Cyclone