Facial recognition technology will be adopted in transportation applications and limited to Saudis
In a decisive regulatory move aimed at restructuring the ride-sharing sector in Saudi Arabia, the Public Transport Authority officially adopted on Sunday the implementation of facial recognition verification for all drivers working with ride-hailing apps. This step coincides with the launch of a unified electronic platform dedicated to registering and documenting the data of all workers in this vital sector, representing a significant leap forward in oversight and operational mechanisms.
A technical mechanism to eliminate commercial concealment
These new measures, scheduled to be implemented in the first quarter of 2026, aim to address one of the most significant challenges facing the sector: the phenomenon of commercial fraud and the use of driver accounts by unauthorized individuals. Biometric verification technology (facial recognition) acts as a digital security barrier, ensuring a complete and instantaneous match between the driver officially registered on the application and the actual driver completing the trip. This effectively eliminates any possibility of account rentals or the use of other people's identities.
The context of localization and restricting employment to Saudis
The Public Transport Authority has reiterated its firm and unwavering stance that passenger transport via smart applications is exclusively reserved for Saudi citizens. This emphasis comes within the framework of national efforts to empower Saudi nationals to benefit from the economic opportunities offered by this growing sector and to protect them from unfair competition that may be caused by undocumented expatriate workers. These new technical measures are considered the most stringent enforcement tool for implementing Saudization decisions, as no expatriate will be able to work through these applications due to the impossibility of bypassing the biometric verification system linked to the national identity card.
Enhancing security and reliability for beneficiaries
In terms of social safety and quality of life, this approach directly and positively impacts the passenger experience. By ensuring that the driver is the same person who has undergone security and regulatory checks, reliability and safety levels on journeys increase, especially for families and children. The authority emphasized that the new driver registration portal will be the primary regulatory reference for verifying drivers' eligibility and the integrity of their vehicle records, ensuring they are free of any issues before being authorized to accept any transportation requests.
The beneficiary's role in oversight
In closing, the Authority called on all beneficiaries of transportation services via applications to be active partners in the success of this system, by not being lenient in reporting any discrepancy they notice between the identity of the driver appearing in the application and the actual driver, via the unified number 19929, stressing that passenger awareness is the first line of defense to ensure a safe and regulated transportation environment.
