Interview with our CEO

How would you describe Localrydes in 5 words?

I would say innovative, empowering, enriching, quality-driven and transparent.

What inspired you to create Localrydes?

Well, the idea of creating a platform dedicated to helping local transport providers connect with travelers originated at ATM Dubai in 2014. After speaking with several chauffeur companies, I realized that tech intermediaries were exploiting these providers by enforcing low rates and charging high commissions. Moreover, smaller chauffeur companies often struggled to stand out on their own, especially without substantial resources or technical expertise. It became clear to me that the industry lacked the necessary tech sets to empower these businesses.

I then shared this vision with my colleague, Bishr Haffar, and together, we conceptualized a platform to address these challenges. This platform would not only support transport providers but also allow travelers to filter and choose their preferred transportation based on vehicle categories, rates, features, or reviews.

Our mission is to democratize the private transportation industry by providing the technology that enables transport providers to excel. Ultimately, this will foster greater transparency and encourage providers to raise their quality standards.

How does the company align with your vision of redefining premium transportation?

Although it took quite some time to shape the product as I envisioned, I can confidently say that our platform has already made a positive impact on many transport providers and travelers alike. We continue to learn and improve every day, actively listening to transport providers to refine a product that meets their needs while prioritizing a seamless user experience. In essence, it’s a comprehensive end-to-end solution for both providers and travelers.

Localrydes is now empowering hundreds of transport providers by offering the technology they need to manage their daily operations efficiently, while also allowing them to list their vehicles for free on the Localrydes marketplace.

How do you see Localrydes reshaping the travel and transportation landscape for both business and leisure travellers?

In this era of rapid technological advancement, where transparency is paramount, travelers of all kinds naturally seek the best value for their money. At Localrydes, we’ve made this process seamless—not just for solo and family travelers but also for corporations—by offering a platform that empowers them to make informed choices with greater flexibility.

With Localrydes, you can browse and select the ideal option from hundreds of providers and even plan an entire trip independently, without the need for a human agent.

How has technology played a role in transforming the chauffeur experience?

Over the past two decades, the chauffeur industry has seen significant evolution, particularly in areas like communication between guests and chauffeurs. However, despite the advancements in travel technology, much of the benefit has been monopolized by transport intermediaries, leaving local providers at a disadvantage.

Localrydes aims to change this by equipping transport providers with technology that empowers them to thrive. Providers can not only showcase their vehicles but also utilize our comprehensive system to streamline daily operations, including reservation management, accounting, and driver management. Best of all, everything is accessible through both our mobile app and web platform.

What innovations can customers expect from Localrydes in the future?

Localrydes is striving to streamline the booking process further by integrating AI. An exciting development for providers is the ability to assess their performance through detailed analytics and gain insights into yearly projections of their city's activity.