Saudi railways integrates Uber’s reserve product on rail platform

Saudi Arabia Railways (SAR) and Uber Technologies have extended their partnership to integrate the ride-hailing firm’s reserve product on a rail platform for the first time globally.

“For the first time for Uber globally, we launch reserve’s integration with great pride in Saudi Arabia, as our commitment to the kingdom and aligning with the Vision 2030 goals is made evident,” Mohammad Aljuraish, general manager of Uber Saudi Arabia said, adding that the ride-hailing firm is supporting the growth of tourism within in Saudi Arabia by providing inbound and outbound travellers with an opportunity to explore the cities hustle-free.

Uber’s reserve product allows passengers to pre-book up to four reserve rides to and from seven train stations across six cities in the kingdom via the SAR website and app when purchasing train tickets.

Saudi railways, Uber expands partnership

The two entities are expanding their partnership to offer commuters and tourists in Saudi Arabia greater access to seamless travel.

SAR said the new service will be available to and from stations in Riyadh, Majmaah and Qassim on the North Train line, and for the East Train, Riyadh, Hofuf, Abqaiq and Dammam. The rail operator plans to expand services to Hail, Jouf and Qurayyat in the future.

The offering is aimed at supporting passengers in embarking on more hassle-free end-to-end journeys that can be pre-planned, as bookings can be made up to 90 days in advance.

“This new service will make the most out of our respective technologies and platforms to offer greater access to quality mobility solutions, raising the bar for quality transportation,” said Aljuraish.

Uber is charting the future of urban mobility in Saudi Arabia in line with Vision 2030’s goal to bolster the country’s transport network and services. Using innovative technology, the deal with SAR aims to develop a full, state-of-the-art ecosystem of mobility solutions across the country.

The launch of the reserve product is the second phase of Uber’s partnership with SAR, following the signing of an agreement in 2021 to facilitate more streamlined pick-up and drop off for commuters at railway stations.