In this article: How to use Uber and Careem in Egypt? My experiences and advice for using Uber in Hurghada Egypt.
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Uber and Careem are both operating in Egypt. Careem is an Arabic version of Uber. Both of them provide taxi services with the same user interface. For using Uber and Careem you need to download an application to your smartphone. Briefly, you order a taxi through these applications.
What is Uber and how does it work in Egypt? People use their own cars as taxis and get orders through these apps. Service works with the app, which is installed on a smartphone and downloaded from the app- or play store. The application uses your location. In other words, you order a taxi to your location with your mobile by the application.
Both of the applications require an internet connection for working. If you don’t have an Egyptian sim card with internet connection installed on your phone, don’t use the application outside of WI-FI connection. Otherwise, it may become very expensive for you. To read more about mobile internet connections, click here.
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Next: Uber and Careem fares
How does it work? Uber and Careem fares in Egypt
The app checks your location and sends a car straight to your location if you want so. A car can be also ordered somewhere else. After you have set up your pick up location and destination, the app gives you the approximated cost of the trip.
This is a very good feature, and there will be no big surprises for a customer at the end. You also see on the map, if there are cars available close to you, and how far they are from your location.
After an app has found a car for you, it will give you more details about it: register number; car type; name and number of the driver.
Most of the cars have a registration number only in Arabic numbers, so it’s a little bit hard to check the registration number if you are not familiar with Arabic letters. So, pay attention to other details or learn Arabic numbers.
Note! Some drivers prefer to call before coming. Usually, they call to tell they are coming in a few minutes or ask where to come exactly. Even both apps use GPS, some drivers ask details and instructions to the destination. This may become a problem, in case you are not familiar with the city.
Next: My Uber experiences in Egypt
My Uber and Careem experiences in Egypt
I have used Uber a lot, mostly in Hurghada. It works most of time and it has good discounts.
Last week, I tried to order a taxi from Uber around 11 o’clock at the day time and didn’t get it. There were no cars available at this time of the day. It could have been also a problem with the app. Later in the evening and afternoon availability was much better and the cars came fast.
I used Uber last time when I visited in Hurghada Grand Aquarium. It is not in the city centre, but not totally out of the town either. It took 7 minutes to get Uber taxi there.
In case you need a car fast and don’t want to take a taxi from the street, then Uber and Careem are the best options. For private car companies, it takes longer to send a car for you.
Read more: Private car companies, ABC-taxi
Careem experiences
I have also been using Careem to see how it works.
Until now, my experiences with Careem have only been positive. Even in the mornings, cars have come very fast. Yesterday morning I didn’t have time to put my shoes on, and a car was already outside my house.
Careem works like Uber, but from my experience, it’s easier to get a car fro Careem. I haven’t noticed a big difference between prices.
Both of them have good discounts and promotions going on all the time. This means, that I have been saving a lot of money by using both Uber and Careem. Free rides from Careem, -50% discount from Uber, you name it.
Compared to Orange taxis and other private car companies, Careem and Uber have cheaper fares. 5 km ride costs about 20-25 Egyptian pounds (le.) at the moment. And with discounts, it’s really cheap!
Read more: How to use taxis in Hurghada
Why to use Uber and Careem?
Uber and Careem are the cheapest and easiest way to move around the city excluding microbuses (more about the microbuses here). You get a car fast, and you don’t need to fight about the prices. At the end of the ride, the application tells you, how much does it cost. Careem sends you even an e-mail receipt.
You get to rate a driver at the end of the ride. I hope this encourages drivers to behave professionally. You can also report a driver through the application (app), in case you have any problems.
All my trips have been good with no problems, but unfortunately, bad individuals may exist among these drivers too.
For your own safety, women should never sit on the front seat, when travelling alone in a taxi.
Sitting in the front seat may send a wrong message to a driver, and it may lead to sexual harassment. This is why you should always sit back in Egypt.
But like I said, I haven’t had any problems with Uber or Careem drivers myself.
If I choose to use a private car company over Careem or Uber, it’s because I’m travelling with a baby. I have noticed, that the private car companies (ABC-taxi, Fawry taxi and so on) have a little bit better and newer cars (most of them are, not all) compared to Uber and Careem.
When travelling with a baby, I prefer the safest way to move.
I use Careem & Uber because, in my opinion, they are safe, cheap and easy to use. In the end, it’s up to you, if you want to use them or not.
Keep yourself moving around and enjoy your rides;
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