Non-Saudi drivers working for app-based ride-sharing services will be penalized as part of moves to saudize the Kingdom's transportation sector, according to Rimaih Al-Rimaih, head of the Public Transport Authority. The warning comes on the heels of a recent ban on the drivers of Uber and Careem from picking up passengers at Saudi airports. "The number of non-Saudi taxi drivers in the Kingdom has dropped to 30 percent of the total. The authority aims to saudize the sector by 100 percent. Any non-Saudi caught running the ride-sharing service will face a fine of SR5,000 and possible deportation," he said, adding that 70 percent of the taxi drivers in the country currently are Saudis. Al-Rimaih was speaking during the launch of a logistics hub workshop organized by the authority at the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Sunday. [caption id="attachment_128174" align="alignright" width="300"] Officials from the transport sector and the Jeddah Chamber of Commerce and Industry at the workshop on logistics hub at JCCI on Sunday. — Courtesy photo[/caption] Head of the Saudi Ports Authority Nabil Al-Amoudi, Acting Director General of Saudi Customs Ahmad Al-Haqbani and chamber officials also spoke at the workshop. The participants discussed ways to simplify import and export procedures to strengthen the Saudi Arabia's position in the international market. According to Saeed Al-Bassami, head of the national transport committee at the Council of Saudi Chambers and the land transport committee at Jeddah chamber, the arrival of the ride-hailing services has greatly harmed the interests of taxi drivers in the Kingdom. "The number of people using regular taxis has dropped 50 percent despite the fact that the taxi fare is much cheaper compared to the cost of hailing a ride. The Ministry of Transport is working to develop its own apps to streamline the services of taxi drivers and reserve parking space for them in various locations so that they do not obstruct the flow of traffic in cities," said Al-Bassami. A spokesman for the General Directorate of Traffic said early this month that drivers from Uber and Careem are barred from picking up passengers from the Kingdom's airports. Col. Tareq Al-Rubaiaan said the traffic police would punish any violators found transporting passengers on airport grounds. Airport regulations have long barred private drivers from offering their cars for hire to arriving passengers in Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia has embraced Uber and regional rival Careem to a far greater extent, courting both companies with substantial investments to support the Kingdom's Vision 2030 economic reform plan, particularly its goal to get more women in the workforce.
