Cairenes have the option of riding along 83 km (52 miles) of metro lines or taking one of the city\u2019s 3,030 state-operated buses. Though they cost a fraction of the price of a cab or Uber, mass transit offerings are limited compared to peer cities, the World Bank says, and buses often creak along with windows missing and commuters uncomfortably packed on in often-searing heat.<\/span><\/p>\n President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi has vowed to improve Egypt\u2019s infrastructure after decades of neglect, investing in motorways and extending the metro, though concerns over cleanliness and harassment mean those who can afford it often opt for private transport.<\/span><\/p>\n A growing and youthful population, where about 32 million people own a smartphone, means Cairo has emerged as a darling of ride-hailing companies just as their services face growing challenges from traditional taxis and state regulators around the globe. Cairo taxi drivers have protested too and Egypt\u2019s cabinet recently approved a draft law regulating car-sharing services. Its potential impact is not yet clear, but many customers in Cairo prefer the new air-conditioned rides to often-dilapidated local taxis, whose drivers regularly refuse to run their meters leading to fare-disputes.<\/span><\/p>\n Fuel subsidy-cuts have made it more expensive for car-owners to drive themselves and soaring inflation over the past year means those who would once have bought a car are turning to ride-hailing instead.<\/span><\/p>\n Spotting a gap, engineering graduate Mostafa Kandil and two friends started Swvl this year. It operates privately-owned buses and allows commuters to book fixed-line, fixed-time trips through the app. The government has signed a deal to add some of its buses to the app and Careem bought a stake in Swvl, which now serves about 100,000 customers, for about $500,000 this year.<\/span><\/p>\n \u201cThese services thrive in markets where people are left to choose between on-demand transportation or inhumane public transportation,\u201d said Kandil.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/p>\n