Uber has raised hopes that its taxis could return to the streets of Abu Dhabi, after the firm revealed that it had held “positive conversations” with transport chiefs.
The ride-hailing firm said it still wanted to resume operations in the Emirate, after Careem, a rival company, developed closer ties to the government by agreeing a partnership deal which will see it offer new services in the Emirate.
Both Uber and Careem suspended operations in 2016 after the authorities launched a crackdown on the companies, amid concerns over their pricing structures. While Careem has since returned in Abu Dhabi, Uber has not. Uber has continued to operate in Dubai.
In June, Uber appeared to downplay the prospects of a comeback, describing pricing rules, which mean taxis have to be 30 per cent more expensive than standard taxis, as “prohibitive”.
However, in an update on talks, a spokesman struck a more upbeat tone.
“We are in positive conversations with TransAD; our ultimate goal is to resume operations with an affordable service,” he told The National:
Meanwhile, more details have emerged of Careem’s expansion in Abu Dhabi, as the company also moved to highlight its track record of expanding into challenging areas such as Sudan, Iraq and Palestine, which it said had boosted their economies and created much-needed jobs.