The Public Transport Authority in Saudi Arabia announced a significant regulatory step, officially adopting facial recognition verification as a mandatory requirement for all drivers working for ride-hailing apps. This decision coincides with the launch of a unified electronic platform for registering and documenting the data of all workers in this vital sector, while simultaneously emphasizing that this activity is exclusively limited to Saudi citizens.
Background of the decision and its national context
This new regulatory approach falls within the broader framework of the Kingdom's efforts to achieve the goals of Vision 2030, which focuses on digital transformation, regulating new economic sectors, and providing decent job opportunities for citizens. The ride-hailing sector has witnessed tremendous growth in recent years, becoming an integral part of the modern transportation system in Saudi cities. With this growth, regulatory and security challenges have emerged, most notably the phenomenon of commercial concealment, where non-Saudis use accounts registered in the names of Saudi citizens to operate within these applications. This violates regulations, negatively impacts job opportunities for young Saudis, and undermines security.
The importance of the new measures and their expected impact
The new procedures, which will be implemented in the first quarter of 2026, aim to bring about a significant improvement in reliability and safety. By requiring drivers to verify their identity via facial recognition before starting work or at random checkpoints throughout the day, the authority ensures a complete match between the driver registered on the app and the actual driver. This measure completely prevents any attempt to use other people's accounts and eliminates the phenomenon of unregistered drivers.
On the local level, the decision is expected to have multiple positive effects:
- Enhancing safety: Raising the level of safety for service users, especially women and families, by ensuring that all drivers are documented and identified by official authorities.
- Supporting localization: Protecting job opportunities in this sector for Saudi citizens, which contributes to achieving the goals of the “Saudization” policy and reducing unemployment rates.
- Improving the quality of service: By limiting work to regular and registered drivers, the standards of quality and compliance with regulations are raised, which is reflected positively on the passenger experience.
A unified platform for more effective oversight
The unified electronic portal launched by the Authority will serve as a comprehensive regulatory reference, allowing for the verification of drivers' eligibility and compliance with requirements, as well as ensuring the validity of their vehicle registrations and their suitability for passenger transport. This platform will provide the Authority with a complete overview and enhanced oversight capabilities over all companies operating in the market, guaranteeing their full compliance with regulations.
The authority renewed its call for service users to be partners in the success of this system by immediately reporting any discrepancy they notice in the driver's identity compared to that registered in the application, by calling the unified number 19929. Passenger awareness and active participation are the cornerstones of ensuring a safe and reliable transportation environment for all.
