Uber announced has plans to invest $200 million in Turkey over the next five years, including the establishment of a major technology and software development center in İstanbul, Turkish officials said Friday.
Industry and Technology Minister Mehmet Fatih Kacır said Uber views Turkey as a “hub of innovation” and will employ around 500 engineers and technology experts at the new facility, which will support the company’s global operations.
“Uber is expanding its presence and investment in our country,” Kacır said at the launch event for the new center. “With this $200 million investment, Uber will take an important step toward positioning Turkey as an innovation hub. I congratulate Uber for the confidence it has shown in our country.”
A memorandum of understanding was signed at the event by Kacır, head of the Presidential Investment Office Burak Dağlıoğlu and Uber’s head of business development, Madhu Kannan. The new Istanbul hub will be Uber’s fourth outside the United States, after Brazil, India and the Netherlands, according to the state-run Anadolu news agency.
Uber’s chief executive officer, Dara Khosrowshahi, said the decision reflected Turkey’s growing role in the company’s global strategy. “Today, Turkey stands as a global reference point in adopting digital platforms,” he said. “Ninety-five percent of taxis in Istanbul use the Uber app, and we are approaching 100 million trips since our launch. This is an incredible milestone achieved together with our partners, drivers and riders.”
The investment comes months after Uber acquired a majority stake in Trendyol Go, a Turkish food and grocery delivery platform, expanding its footprint in the country’s fast-growing logistics and digital services market.
Once banned, now expanding
Uber first entered Turkey in 2014 but faced fierce opposition from taxi associations, which accused the company of engaging in illegal “pirate” transport and causing unfair competition. The conflict led to violent street protests and lawsuits that culminated in an October 2019 court ruling banning access to Uber’s ride-hailing app.
In December 2020 an appeals court overturned the ban, allowing Uber to resume operations in Turkey. The company returned to İstanbul in early 2021, operating through licensed yellow taxis instead of private vehicles.
Uber’s new investment marks a significant turnaround for the company in Turkey, where it now serves as one of the largest digital mobility platforms.