Dubai’s car rental app Udrive secures $5mn to fuel MENAT expansion

Dubai’s car rental app Udrive secures $5mn to fuel MENAT expansion

Dubai-based pay-per-minute car rental service, Udrive has raised $5 million as it seeks to expand its services across the Middle East, North Africa and Turkey (MENAT).

Cultiv8, Dubai government’s small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) and startup investment arm, and Oman Holding International (OHI) participated in the company’s latest funding round, Udrive said.

Udrive addresses short-term on-demand rentals by adding additional services including free fuel, parking and comprehensive insurance for all its customers. Its cars can be driven per minute or per day, depending on the needs of the customer. The mobile app acts as an all-purpose digital hub for private transport, payments, customer service and logistics, dramatically reducing the time it takes compared to traditional rental companies.

Nicholas Watson

CEO & Co-Founder

Udrive “The recent funding secured will help us invest in new technologies as well as grow our offerings into the region this year. We want to provide this service to everyone who can drive, and the reality is customer demand is shifting fast from buying and owning to on-demand and subscription.”

Car-sharing apps that allow customers to rent a vehicle by the hour, or even the minute, have been growing in popularity. The pay-by-use model helps drivers to save on insurance and maintenance costs,