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Rabat – Uber has resumed operations in Morocco seven years after shutting down its service, reopening first in Casablanca and Marrakech as part of a phased and tightly controlled relaunch.
The company, which left the country in early 2018 after years of regulatory uncertainty and clashes with taxi unions, is returning with a more cautious model designed to avoid the tensions that marked its first period in the market.
Uber originally entered Morocco in 2015, operating mostly in Casablanca at a time when ride-hailing platforms had no legal category. The absence of regulation left drivers vulnerable to penalties, protests, and pressure from taxi syndicates.
By 2018, after repeated disputes and a lack of official recognition for VTC activity, Uber suspended its operations and said it would only return once the legal environment evolved.
The market has changed since then, though the regulatory framework remains incomplete. Apps such as inDrive, Yango, Careem, and Heetch now operate across major cities despite being in the same legal grey area that once pushed Uber out.
Taxi unions continue to oppose ride-hailing apps, yet user demand has grown sharply. App-based mobility has become common in Casablanca, Rabat, and Marrakech, particularly through inDrive. Uber’s return arrives as the country prepares for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), a period expected to strain urban transport systems.
In this first stage, Uber is offering only two services: UberX and UberXL. UberX is the basic, more affordable option for up to four passengers, while UberXL accommodates four to six people in larger vehicles suited for families or small groups.
Other categories, such as Uber Comfort, Uber Black, Uber Pool, and Uber Green, are not available during the initial rollout.
The relaunch is managed through Uber’s regional hub in Dubai, which oversees operations across the Middle East and Africa.
The structure also includes Careem, acquired by Uber in 2020, though both platforms continue to run separately in Morocco with their own apps and services.
Uber’s merger with Careem has still not been approved by the Moroccan Competition Council six years after notification, as the file remains suspended pending a clearer legal framework for ride-hailing.
A phased model built on licensed operators
To prevent a repeat of past operational problems, Uber is limiting access to the platform to companies that already hold transport licenses.
Only authorized tourist transport operators can register their vehicles, while private individuals are excluded for now because the country still lacks a legal basis for non-professional VTC drivers. Taxi integration, already offered by Careem, is not included in Uber’s relaunch.
The exact size of the initial fleet has not been disclosed, but several hundred licensed vehicles are already planned. The number is expected to increase gradually as more authorized companies sign up on the platform, according to le360.
Uber’s return adds pressure on authorities to clarify the status of ride-hailing services, an issue repeatedly raised but still unresolved.
As the company restarts operations with a limited offer and strict conditions, its expansion will depend on how the first phase is received by regulators, operators, and users in the months ahead.
Read Also: After Rocky Exit, Uber Signals Return to Morocco Through Marrakech
