Istanbul Set to Host Uber’s Fourth Global Technology Center

US-based ride-hailing company Uber has announced plans to establish a new global technology hub in Istanbul, marking its fourth such center outside the United States, following Brazil, India, and the Netherlands.

The announcement was made during the "Uber Türkiye Global Technology Development and Software Center Launch Event" at Istanbul’s Esma Sultan Mansion, The Caspian Post reports, citing Turkish media.

The event was attended by Turkish Industry and Technology Minister Mehmet Fatih Kacir, President of the Presidential Investment and Finance Office Ahmet Burak Daglioglu, Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi, and Uber Chief Technology Officer Praveen Neppalli Naga.

Following the opening speeches, Uber signed a memorandum of understanding with the Presidential Investment and Finance Office to support its investment activities in Türkiye.

With the new hub, Türkiye will play a strategic role in Uber’s global software development network. The company plans to invest more than $200 million in the Istanbul-based center over the next five years.

During his keynote speech, Uber CEO Khosrowshahi praised Istanbul as "one of the most extraordinary cities in the world - a place of energy, creativity, and connection."

“Our mission was very simple: to make it easier for people to move around in their cities,” he said, recalling the company’s entrance into the Turkish market a decade ago.

“But what began as a mobility solution quickly became something much bigger - a story of progress, a partnership of transformation,” he added.

Noting that 95% of taxis in Istanbul currently use the Uber app, Khosrowshahi said the company is nearing its 100 millionth ride in the Türkiye.

“Today, Türkiye stands as a global benchmark - one of the leading countries in taxi adoption of digital platforms,” he added.

The CEO also highlighted the company's recent investment in Trendyol Go, describing it as a key step in accelerating growth in Türkiye’s delivery and mobility sectors.