Frans Hiemstra

Over the past year, Uber has doubled down on innovation and sustainability, ensuring a clear roadmap well into the future. We view the future of mobility as shared, multimodal, electric, and autonomous, and we partner with cities in the deployment of innovative technological mobility solutions to bring meaningful products to make it easier for people to move.

At the core of our values, is our approach when designing products, as we place ourselves in the shoes of the people who use our app, and ensure we make a positive impact on their lives. For instance, we recently launched Uber Teens in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Qatar and South Africa. The product is designed to help families on the go and allows parents or guardians to invite teens (aged 13-17) to create a specialised Uber account allowing teens to request their rides with parental supervision and key safety features built into the experience.

With the expansion of transport needs across the Middle East, Uber has focused on complementing the existing network of public transport and mobility solutions. Testament to this, is our integration of Lime scooters into the Uber app in the UAE, expanding transportation choices for shorter trips, and providing a practical and sustainable option for users navigating busy environments.

We are also actively working towards the comprehensive electrification of our platform, in line with climate change priorities. To reach our zero emissions goals, we’re continuing to invest $800m globally in resources to help hundreds of thousands of drivers go electric, through driver incentives, charging initiatives, and facilitating EV discounts.

While our ambitions are global, I’m pleased to share that we are making significant progress in the MEA region. In the UAE, we are seeing meaningful progress, with more than 20 per cent of kilometres driven on the Uber platform today, being zero-emissions in Dubai, bringing us closer to our goal to have one in four trips emission-free by 2026. Looking ahead – and as we’ve said from the beginning – Uber will continue working alongside policymakers, regulators and automakers in every country towards achieving zero-emission goals.

Take EVs for example, both infrastructure and access are set to scale rapidly across the region over the next few years, as part of consolidated efforts towards making them mainstream, thus positively impacting the environment. Our partnership with Al-Futtaim Electric Mobility Company and BYD works to accelerate the electrification of the Uber platform to bring EVs across our product portfolio. We also signed an MoU with Etihad Rail in the UAE to share knowledge and ultimately enhance integrated passenger transportation.

Looking to the future of mobility, autonomous vehicles (AVs) are already beginning to reshape mobility ecosystems globally. In December 2024, we launched autonomous vehicles on the Uber platform in Abu Dhabi, endorsed by Abu Dhabi Mobility and with Tawasul Transport as the fleet operator. The launch in partnership with WeRide marks the first launch of AVs on the Uber platform outside of the US. We are excited with the progress witnessed across the region. We’re bullish on what the future holds for the mobility ecosystem and envisage that the mobility landscape will experience a major shift over the next decade, one led by the decline of private car use, easing congestion and a reduction of emissions.

What makes me optimistic about 2025 is the evolving relationship riders have with mobility itself. Ultimately, at Uber, we’re playing the long game. While continuing to explore several potential products, and solutions, such as eVTOLs (electric vertical take-off and landing), among others, our priorities also remain grounded in everyday realities. How do we make mobility more accessible? How do we ensure it’s sustainable? And how do we keep innovating with purpose?

The answers to these questions will guide us as we push forward.