Sisi approves law governing ride-hailing apps in Egypt

Egypt’s President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi approved a law governing popular ride-hailing apps Uber and Careem after the companies appealed a court ruling that revoked their licenses, the country’s official gazette reported Sunday. The law establishes the basis for operating licenses and fees, and requires licensed companies to store user data for 180 days and make it available to Egyptian security authorities upon request. There was no immediate comment from Uber and Careem. Both companies, however, had welcomed the draft law when Parliament approved it in May. Both companies have apps that connect passengers with drivers who work as independent contractors. In March, an Egyptian court deemed it illegal to use private vehicles for taxi services and ordered Uber and Careem’s apps to be blocked.