Egypt's parliament approved a law to govern popular ride-hailing apps Uber and Careem, which had faced legal challenges. The new law stablishes operating licenses and fees. It requires licensed companies to store user data for 180 days. Eman Helal / AP
Egypt's parliament approved a law to govern popular ride-hailing apps Uber and Careem, which had faced legal challenges. The new law stablishes operating licenses and fees. It requires licensed companShow more

Careem, Uber hail Egypt law regulating ride-sharing services



Dubai-based company Careem and its American rival Uber hailed a new law approved by Egyptian lawmakers to govern ride-sharing apps after the companies faced a series of legal setbacks in the region. The Egyptian parliament provisionally approved a draft law on Monday that will impose new fees and data sharing requirements on the popular apps, according to the state-run Mena news agency. The new law requires licensed companies to store user data for 180 days and share it with the Egyptian authorities on request.

The “vote and passage of the ride-hailing law marks a remarkable step for Egypt, Careem and our region,” a Careem spokesperson said in an emailed statement. “It is the first time in any of Careem's operating markets that a regulatory framework for ride-hailing has emerged from a consultative legislative and parliamentary process.”

The move to legalise ride-sharing apps follows Uber and Careem appeal of a court ruling to halt their Egypt operations in March as a result of a law suit by a group of taxi companies. It marks a win for the companies, potentially ending litigation proceedings that may bar them from operating in the Arab world’s most populous nation. Egypt is Uber’s biggest market in the Middle East with four million users and 157,000 drivers and is one of the leading markets for its regional rival Careem.

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Careem has three million riders in Egypt and has based its call centre in Cairo to serve the entire region. It worked with the government to create more than 100,000 jobs for Egyptians, it said.

“In passing the law, the Egyptian government and parliament sends out a strong signal that Egypt continues to be open for business and investment and is a hub for innovation and the technology ecosystem,” Careem said.

Uber said it will continue working with Egypt’s prime minister and cabinet in the next months as the law is finalised.

“This is a major step forward for the ride-sharing industry as Egypt becomes one of the first countries in the Middle East to pass ridesharing regulations,” an Uber spokeswoman said in an emailed statement.

The law states that ride-sharing companies must get a five-year renewable licence costing a maximum of 30 million Egyptian pounds (Dh6.21m), according to the Mena state agency.

An initial draft of the bill had required the companies to provide real-time data sharing but that evoked opposition because of privacy concerns and was amended to providing data on request.

If the current version of the law is amended in the coming months to reintroduce the earlier requirements, Uber will once again vocalise its past concerns on the “worrisome provisions,” a company source said.

Uber has faced legal and regulatory challenges to its operations in countries around the world as taxi providers disputed their presence. It has been forced to shut down its operations in Denmark and Hungary last year. On June 25, it will face a critical court battle over its licence to operate in London, its biggest market outside the US.

Careem is also facing legal challenges regionally. A court in Jordan has banned its services in the capital Amman last month. The country’s telecoms regulator said the app was blocked until the company obtains a license.

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How much do leading UAE’s UK curriculum schools charge for Year 6?
  1. Nord Anglia International School (Dubai) – Dh85,032
  2. Kings School Al Barsha (Dubai) – Dh71,905
  3. Brighton College Abu Dhabi - Dh68,560
  4. Jumeirah English Speaking School (Dubai) – Dh59,728
  5. Gems Wellington International School – Dubai Branch – Dh58,488
  6. The British School Al Khubairat (Abu Dhabi) - Dh54,170
  7. Dubai English Speaking School – Dh51,269

*Annual tuition fees covering the 2024/2025 academic year

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Tank warfare

Lt Gen Erik Petersen, deputy chief of programs, US Army, has argued it took a “three decade holiday” on modernising tanks. 

“There clearly remains a significant armoured heavy ground manoeuvre threat in this world and maintaining a world class armoured force is absolutely vital,” the general said in London last week.

“We are developing next generation capabilities to compete with and deter adversaries to prevent opportunism or miscalculation, and, if necessary, defeat any foe decisively.”

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MWTC

Tickets start from Dh100 for adults and are now on sale at www.ticketmaster.ae and Virgin Megastores across the UAE. Three-day and travel packages are also available at 20 per cent discount.

Where to submit a sample

Volunteers of all ages can submit DNA samples at centres across Abu Dhabi, including: Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (Adnec), Biogenix Labs in Masdar City, NMC Royal Hospital in Khalifa City, NMC Royal Medical Centre, Abu Dhabi, NMC Royal Women's Hospital, Bareen International Hospital, Al Towayya in Al Ain, NMC Specialty Hospital, Al Ain

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THE SPECS

Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 petrol engine 

Power: 420kW

Torque: 780Nm

Transmission: 8-speed automatic

Price: From Dh1,350,000

On sale: Available for preorder now

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Famous left-handers

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Company profile

Date started: 2015

Founder: John Tsioris and Ioanna Angelidaki

Based: Dubai

Sector: Online grocery delivery

Staff: 200

Funding: Undisclosed, but investors include the Jabbar Internet Group and Venture Friends

At a glance

Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.

 

Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year

 

Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month

 

Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30 

 

Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse

 

Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth

 

Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances

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A MINECRAFT MOVIE

Director: Jared Hess

Starring: Jack Black, Jennifer Coolidge, Jason Momoa

Rating: 3/5

Results

2pm: Al Sahel Contracting Company – Maiden (PA) Dh50,000 (Dirt) 1,200m; Winner: AF Mutakafel, Tadhg O’Shea (jockey), Ernst Oertel (trainer)

2.30pm: Dubai Real Estate Centre – Maiden (TB) Dh60,000 (D) 1,200m; Winner: El Baareq, Antonio Fresu, Rashed Bouresly

3pm: Shadwell – Rated Conditions (TB) Dh100,000 (D) 1,950m; Winner: Lost Eden, Andrea Atzeni, Doug Watson

3.30pm: Keeneland – Handicap (TB) Dh84,000 (D) 1,000m; Winner: Alkaraama, Dane O’Neill, Musabah Al Muhairi

4pm: Keeneland – Handicap (TB) Dh76,000 (D) 1,800m; Winner: Lady Snazz, Saif Al Balushi, Bhupat Seemar

4.30pm: Hive – Conditions (TB) Dh100,000 (D) 1,600m; Winner: Down On Da Bayou, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer

5pm: Dubai Real Estate Centre – (TB) Handicap Dh64,000 (D) 1,600m; Winner: Lahmoom, Royston Ffrench, Salem bin Ghadayer

The National Archives, Abu Dhabi

Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.

Much of the material can be viewed on line at the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive - https://www.agda.ae/en

if you go

The flights 

Etihad and Emirates fly direct to Kolkata from Dh1,504 and Dh1,450 return including taxes, respectively. The flight takes four hours 30 minutes outbound and 5 hours 30 minute returning. 

The trains

Numerous trains link Kolkata and Murshidabad but the daily early morning Hazarduari Express (3’ 52”) is the fastest and most convenient; this service also stops in Plassey. The return train departs Murshidabad late afternoon. Though just about feasible as a day trip, staying overnight is recommended.

The hotels

Mursidabad’s hotels are less than modest but Berhampore, 11km south, offers more accommodation and facilities (and the Hazarduari Express also pauses here). Try Hotel The Fame, with an array of rooms from doubles at Rs1,596/Dh90 to a ‘grand presidential suite’ at Rs7,854/Dh443.

NO OTHER LAND

Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal

Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham

Rating: 3.5/5

Sugary teas and iced coffees

The tax authority is yet to release a list of the taxed products, but it appears likely that sugary iced teas and cold coffees will be hit.

For instance, the non-fizzy drink AriZona Iced Tea contains 65 grams of sugar – about 16 teaspoons – per 680ml can. The average can costs about Dh6, which would rise to Dh9.

Cold coffee brands are likely to be hit too. Drinks such as Starbucks Bottled Mocha Frappuccino contain 31g of sugar in 270ml, while Nescafe Mocha in a can contains 15.6g of sugar in a 240ml can.

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