In a bid to provide a safer transportation option for women and girls, several Egyptian apps have emerged, offering women-only options to avoid risks like abduction and harassment.
Wasaleeny, a ride-sharing app exclusively for female drivers, started as a WhatsApp group nearly two years ago in the Fifth Settlement area, according to The New Arab Website.
“We focused on providing job opportunities for female drivers,” Farag El-Sayed, founder of Wasaleeny she said, adding that the concept quickly expanded to other areas like Nasr City, Madinaty, Heliopolis, Shorouk, 6th of October City, and Sheikh Zayed.
Wasaleeny, new ride-hailing app designed specifically for women:
Set to launch in June, the app prioritizes user safety with a “distress feature” that works offline. Currently operating in 60 Cairo areas with over 120,000 users, Wasaleeny boasts a fleet of over 800 cars driven by women. The app has gained popularity due to safety concerns among women who use traditional ride-hailing services. Users like Farida Omar appreciate the peace of mind and professionalism offered by Wasaleeny’s female drivers.
However, the app still faces challenges. Despite high demand, the limited number of drivers sometimes results in unavailable rides, forcing users to resort to other options. The company has yet to implement a commission system, which could potentially impact future growth and driver earnings. As Wasaleeny continues to expand, addressing these issues will be crucial for its long-term success.
In general, ride-hailing applications were once widely embraced in Egypt as a superior and safer option for women. Yet, a series of distressing incidents over the past three months has left many women feeling that the trust they had placed in these apps has been shattered, with the once-assured promise of security now under question.
Shahd Mohammed, a long-time user of these ride-hailing applications, expressed her poignant thoughts: “I believe that Habiba’s tragic passing was the final straw. Before every single trip, I find myself tormented by the thought – will this be the ride that will leave me traumatized for life, or worse, end my life?”
In May, an Uber driver in Egypt received a 15-year prison sentence in connection with the heartbreaking demise of 24-year-old Habiba El-Shamaa, who resorted to jumping from the vehicle to escape an attempted abduction.
The driver was found guilty of attempted kidnapping, possession of cannabis, driving under the influence of narcotics, and forging official identification papers to create an Uber account.
