Uber, Unilever make taxi rides 'Covid safe' in Saudi Arabia
RIYADH, November 15, 2020
Global taxi-hailing app Uber said it has played a key role in bolstering the safety of passengers in Saudi Arabia by supplying over 17,000 hygiene products to drivers as the country continues to move out of lockdown.
In partnership with leading FMCG company Unilever, Uber will be distributing its key products including Lifebuoy hand sanitizers and Jif anti-bacterial wipes in hygiene kits to drivers; enabling drivers and riders to clean their hands and wipe down the inside surfaces of cars after every trip.
Face masks are also included in the hygiene kit on top of the 300,000 masks Uber has distributed across the region so far, with plans to continue as needed, said the statement from Uber.
It had first announced its collaboration with Unilever in May with a pilot rolled out in the UK, with the intention of bringing the partnership to other markets in Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
As part of the partnership, the duo will be providing in-car separators for vehicles which are highly active on Uber’s platform. This is part of Uber’s $50 million global commitment to help provide equipment for clean and hygienic rides at no additional cost to drivers, said a top official.
"As communities get moving again, we all have a role to play in helping to keep each other safe," remarked Mohammad Gazzaz, Uber’s General Manager for Saudi Arabia.
"At Uber, the safety of drivers and riders is our most important priority, so we’re proud to partner with Unilever to ensure drivers have access to the cleaning and sanitizing products they need, at no additional cost to them," he stated.
Sanjiv Kakkar, EVP for Mena, Turkey, Russia, Ukraine and Belarus, at Unilever, said: "As travel restrictions begin to ease, the need for safer transportation is crucial to move into the new normal."
"Unilever’s trusted brands, Lifebuoy and Jif, are making the world a safer, healthier, and cleaner place. We’re delighted to work with Uber at a time when protecting our community has never been so important," he added.-TradeArabia News Service
