Cairo – Mubasher: Dubai-based Careem has welcomed the recently issued bill by the parliament to regulate ride-hailing apps in Egypt.
The new bill passed amid concerns among some lawmakers, including the "25-30" grouping that has opposed several bills, Arabian Business reported on Tuesday.
Diaa Al-Din Dawoud, a member of the "25-30" group, said that the group had expressed reservations on articles 9 and 10 and had requested the text include giving the prosecution's authorisation before obtaining any of the customer data.
The bill will be executed in accordance with the constitution and the criminal code that includes regulations on obtaining private information as Egyptian minister of parliamentary affairs said, Dawoud highlighted.
Furthermore, Careem’s spokesperson described the vote and passage of the ride-hailing law as a “remarkable step”.
“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,” he said.
By passing the law, the Egyptian legislature and the government send a strong sign that the North African nation continues to be open for business and investment, in addition to being a hub for innovation and the technology ecosystem, he added.
All ride-hailing firms will pay around EGP 30 million ($1.7 million) to obtain a five-year licence upon the bill, according to state-run newspaper Al-Ahram.
In March, Egypt's administrative court had issued a ruling to suspend operations of the ride-sharing apps Uber and Careem.
In April, the Cairo Court of Urgent Matters had ruled a decision to suspend the ban on both firms until an appeal is exhausted.
Accordingly, Uber and Careem appealed the ban, on which the urgent matters court has halted the ruling of suspending both firm’s licences in Egypt until the administrative court makes a final verdict.
The two rival apps have sparked outrage among taxi drivers who protested that drivers working for both firms do not have to pay the usual hefty fees to operate transportation vehicles.
Several Egyptians have turned to use ride-hailing apps, complaining about taxi drivers’ bad behaviours.
