Riyadh, KSA (Reuters): The top multinational transportation services Uber and Careem are barred from picking up passengers from Saudi Arabia's airports, a spokesman from the kingdom's General Directorate of Traffic confirmed.
Colonel Tareq Al-Rubaiaan was quoted as saying that traffic authorities would punish any violators found transporting passengers on airport grounds.
According to airport regulations, private drivers have long blocked from offering their cars for hire to arriving passengers in Saudi Arabia, which means the ride-sharing apps have operated in legally murky territory as they grew increasingly popular.
Uber has had shaky ties with Gulf regulators, and only last month signed an agreement with transport authorities in neighboring Dubai to become fully regulated after a series of clashes over pricing and availability.
Saudi Arabia has embraced Uber and regional rival Careem to a far greater extent, courting both companies with substantial state investments to support its Vision 2030 economic reform plan, particularly its goal to get more women in the workforce.
The women account for around 80 percent of Uber and Careem's passengers in a country where women are barred from driving and private drivers are often prohibitively expensive.
The state's Public Investment Fund bought a $3.5 billion stake in Uber in June, while state-controlled Saudi Telecom Co (STC) invested $100 million in Careem in December.
Saudi authorities have also used the apps to bolster employment for Saudi men, requiring in November that Uber and Careem "limit the jobs to Saudi nationals," while allowing non-Saudis already registered as drivers to continue to work for the companies.