Uber has officially exited Tanzania, ending nearly a decade of operations in one of East Africa’s fastest-growing ride-hailing markets, as regulatory pressure and the dominance of a key rival finally caught up with the global platform.
The US-based ride-hailing company confirmed that its services ceased on January 30, 2026, notifying users in a brief in-app message that “this chapter comes to an end,” without offering further details.
Industry analysts say Uber’s departure reflects a prolonged struggle to operate under Tanzania’s tightly regulated transport framework, overseen by the Land Transport Regulatory Authority (LATRA), alongside fierce competition from Bolt, which has entrenched itself as the market leader.
“This exit was years in the making,” said Isaiah Nyalali, a Dar es Salaam-based tech analyst. “Uber was squeezed between regulations that capped commissions and fares, and a competitor that localised faster and priced more aggressively.”
This is not the first time Uber has suspended operations in Tanzania. In April 2022, the company halted services after LATRA imposed a 15 percent commission cap, down from Uber’s global norm of around 25 percent.
Although Uber returned in early 2023 after the cap was revised, the pause allowed Bolt to consolidate its lead by expanding into motorcycle and tricycle rides.
Bolt now operates across eight Tanzanian cities with more than 30,000 drivers, compared to Uber’s estimated 1,500 at the time of exit. Reports show that Tanzania became Africa’s fastest-growing ride-hailing market in 2025, with Bolt recording a 68 percent year-on-year increase in rides.
Uber’s challenges in Tanzania mirror a broader pattern across Africa. In September 2025, the company shut down operations in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, after six years, amid regulatory hurdles, high operating costs, and driver complaints about cash-flow constraints.
Earlier, Uber also exited Morocco and suspended its Uber Moto service in parts of West and East Africa following regulatory bans on commercial motorcycles.
Despite operating in more than a dozen African countries, Uber has increasingly faced pressure from regulators and regional rivals better attuned to local pricing, payment habits and driver economics.
“Uber’s experience shows that scale alone is not enough,” said a regional tech policy expert. “In Africa’s mobility markets, localization and regulatory alignment are just as critical as technology.”
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