Uber launches operations in Nepal, entering 11th Asia-Pacific market

KATHMANDU: Uber on Friday officially launched operations in Nepal, marking the ride‑hailing company’s entry into its 11th market in the Asia-Pacific region and its first new South Asia market launch in a decade.

The service is available with Uber Go and Uber Comfort for four‑wheel vehicles and Uber Bike for two‑wheelers, offering riders additional options for travel across Kathmandu and other urban areas, the company said.

Dominic Taylor, Regional General Manager — Rides, APAC at Uber, said the company is “excited to launch Uber in Nepal and welcome the country into Uber’s global network of mobility markets.” He added that Nepal is “a vibrant and fast‑growing market shaped by increasing digital adoption, urban mobility needs and a thriving tourism economy,” and called the launch an important milestone in Uber’s growth.

Photo courtesy: U.S. Embassy, Nepal/Facebook

Photo courtesy: U.S. Embassy, Nepal/Facebook

Photo courtesy: U.S. Embassy, Nepal/Facebook

Likewise, government officials welcomed the move, saying the service could help improve accessibility for both tourists and residents. Mukund Prasad Niraula, Secretary at the Ministry of Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, said tourism is “one of the key pillars of the Nepali economy” and that improved mobility will play an important role in the sector’s future growth. He said Uber’s arrival will help strengthen Nepal’s standing on the global tourism map and make travel more seamless for international visitors and local residents.

Gopal Prasad Sigdel, Secretary at the Ministry of Infrastructure Development, said the government has viewed the entry as a sign of growing international confidence in Nepal’s economy and a contribution to modernising transport. He said the initiative could create sustainable livelihoods, enhance urban mobility and boost the tourism sector, and expressed hope for a strong partnership that would drive innovation and prosperity.

Uber said Nepal now joins its global network spanning more than 70 countries, allowing users to access the same app when travelling domestically or internationally. The launch is part of its broader strategy to expand mobility options in rapidly urbanising markets, the company said.

Nepal’s urban mobility landscape has been changing in recent years, driven by higher smartphone use, rising consumer expectations and growth in tourism. Uber’s entry adds another international player to a market where local and regional ride-hailing services already operate.

Uber’s mission is to create opportunity through movement. The company began in 2010 and has since completed billions of trips worldwide. Uber develops products for transporting people, food and goods through cities and says it aims to provide a single platform for users to move across different locations.