Transport Authority Enacts New Regulations For Ride-Sharing Drivers

If you're tired of requesting a ride only to have it disappear when it’s one minute away, help is here. The General Authority for Transport of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia has rolled out new penalties aimed at cutting down on "ghost rides" and ensuring customers can count on confirmed trips.

Under the recent regulatory updates, ride-sharing drivers who cancel more than five trips in a single month will see their accounts suspended. According to the Authority, frequent no-shows undermine the customer experience on ridesharing platforms. The new cancellation cap allows flexibility for emergencies while discouraging unwarranted cancellations just before pickup.

The changes are part of broader reforms to standardize policies across taxi, carpooling and ride-hailing services in the Kingdom. Other key amendments require carriers to establish lost items return procedures, and prohibit taxi operations with outdated license plates.