Dubai-based ridesharing company Carpool Arabia has launched its first mobile app for carpooling in the emirate.

 

More than 2,000 people installed the app during the first month, adding to its success in facilitating easy, quick and safe shared transport to commuters in the region, said a statement.

 

The shift from desktop solutions to the mobile app, which is compatible with iOS and Android devices, is a first in a series of strategic initiatives on behalf of Carpool Arabia that are designed to cut down carbon emissions by reducing the number of cars on the road while better serving commuters on the go, it said.

 

Benjamin de Terssac, founder and chief driver of Carpool Arabia, said: “Launching our brand-new Carpool Arabia app will contribute to reducing traffic congestion and provide an alternative for thousands of people to organise their commute to and from work every day.

 

“We are extremely surprised by the high level of interest our app has generated in the first month, which shows the need for new transportation solutions in the UAE. We hope that Carpool Arabia will contribute to the initiative to transform Dubai into the smartest city in the world.”

 

The innovative, eco-friendly app helps to decongest cities and bridges the gap between public transportation and existing apps such as Careem and Uber. It also saves commuters money; carpooling is on average four times cheaper than hailing a cab. By connecting citizen drivers (who are nicknamed 'buddies') and commuters who share the same route, Carpool Arabia’s free app offers the convenience of an easy, safe commute at an affordable price.

 

In addition, drivers and passengers have the option to rate each other at the end of the ride, enabling participants to build interpersonal trust and gain valuable connections. 

 

The drivers have the option to decline or accept the ride anonymously from anywhere, at any time, through the simple click of a button. The app will only allow people who are within a 10-minute radius of one another to connect, creating a 'buddy list' of potential drivers for commuters to choose from.

 

Alexandre Hawari, founder and chief executive officer, Mediaquest Corp, a co-investor of Carpool Arabia, said: “The launch of Carpool Arabia’s new carpooling app is a groundbreaking innovation in the era of public transport for the UAE.

 

“This is the kind of modern-day solution a city like Dubai needs, and the app is simple, quick and user-friendly, bridging a critical gap in affordable public transport at commuters’ fingertips without the added worries of high prices or congested call centers to contend with.” - TradeArabia News Service