Uber announced the start of operations in Kuwait on Tuesday, enabling passengers to request daily trips through its mobile application as part of the company’s long-term commitment to the country’s evolving mobility landscape. The statement highlighted that both residents and international visitors can now access technology-driven transport solutions that simplify everyday travel across the emirate. According to the announcement, the service rollout follows months of preparation and aligns with regulatory developments that have shaped the ride-hailing sector.
The company detailed four available ride categories including Taxi for standard journeys, Uber Comfort for enhanced everyday travel, Uber Black for premium sedans and Uber Lux for the highest-end experience. Riders gain access to several built-in features such as the option to add multiple destinations on a single trip, the ability to schedule rides ahead of time, fully cashless digital payments and round-the-clock support from Uber’s global incident response team. The statement outlined that these elements are designed to deliver a consistent and reliable experience for users in Kuwait.
New users can begin by downloading the Uber application from their device’s app store, creating an account with basic personal information and entering their pickup location along with the desired destination before confirming a vehicle category. The process mirrors the interface already familiar to millions of users in other markets where the platform operates. Local media outlets including Al Jarida reported the launch details simultaneously with the company’s announcement.
Ministerial Decision 893/2026 issued by the Ministry of Interior and published in the Official Gazette in July established updated rules for electronic transport applications that require operators to hold licenses from both the Ministry of Commerce and the General Traffic Department. The regulations mandate that drivers for passenger transport apps must be Kuwaiti citizens at least 21 years old with clean criminal records and must operate vehicles they personally own that are no more than three years old upon initial registration. Existing platforms were given three months to align with the new standards, which also require physical offices, electronic trip logs accessible to authorities and in-vehicle cameras that retain footage for a minimum of 120 days.
Uber’s entry into the Kuwaiti market follows an earlier indication from the company’s regional leadership in February that services would commence during the first half of 2026, a commitment now fulfilled with the September rollout. The decision to launch comes after Careem Rides, a competing platform, introduced its own Luxe premium offering in Kuwait in 2024 to address demand for higher-end commuting options in newer vehicles with top-rated drivers. Public Authority for Civil Information data places the expatriate population at more than two-thirds of total residents, a demographic that typically generates significant demand for convenient transport alternatives.
The company described the Kuwait launch as an expansion that provides familiar mobility tools for visitors while offering local residents an additional choice for navigating the country without reliance on street hailing. Uber’s statement underscored the platform’s focus on safety, reliability and user convenience as core components of its regional growth strategy. Further details on driver recruitment and operational scaling are expected to emerge in the coming weeks as the service gains traction.
