Riyadh: inDrive, a global mobility and urban services platform, has officially obtained a license to operate ride-hailing services in Saudi Arabia.
The company has already launched operations in Jeddah and is offering a 0% service fee for drivers during its initial six months.
With regional offices in Riyadh and Jeddah, inDrive plans to expand across additional cities in the Kingdom this year. Originally founded in Siberia, inDrive has grown rapidly, becoming the world’s second most downloaded mobility app with over 280 million downloads, according to Sensor Tower. Saudi Arabia marks the 49th country in which inDrive operates.
Abdulrahman Basallum, Country Manager of inDrive in Saudi Arabia, highlighted the platform’s unique approach: “Our model empowers both passengers and drivers to negotiate and agree on a fair price.
Unlike traditional platforms, we don’t impose high commission fees, drivers keep more of their earnings, and passengers enjoy greater pricing transparency.”
Unlike typical ride-hailing apps, inDrive allows passengers to suggest a fare, which drivers can accept, decline, or counter without penalty.
This bidding-based model ensures pricing is fair for both parties and reflects real-time demand and supply.
With its low commission structure 2 to 3 times lower than competitors inDrive has quickly earned popularity across MENA, especially in Egypt and Morocco, where it ranks as the top mobility app.
Backed by major investors like Insight Partners, Bond Capital, and General Catalyst, inDrive was valued at $1.23 billion in its 2021 funding round. The company has since seen significant revenue growth.
inDrive’s mission is to challenge economic injustice while having a positive impact on over 1 billion people by 2030.
It supports a range of community initiatives in education, sports, culture, ecology, and gender equality, and plans to launch similar programs in Saudi Arabia.
Safety is also a top priority, with advanced technologies used for driver verification, ride tracking, and 24/7 customer support for user protection.
With a focus on fairness, freedom of choice, and social impact, inDrive is poised to be a key player in Saudi Arabia’s mobility landscape.
