JEDDAH: In the changing world of the car rental business in the Kingdom the growing demand for such services makes advanced technological solutions a necessity.
Tareq Jendi and his team at EjarTech anticipated the potential higher demand in the car rental industry in Saudi Arabia back in 2017, in light of the entertainment revolution in the Kingdom.
They decided that it was time to digitize the car rental industry and founded EjarTech, a car rental bookings platform.
The company was established in September 2017 by the four founders: CEO Tareq Jendi, COO Hussain Al-Qarni and IT developers El-Tayeb Karrar and Saleh Al-Saggaf. They partnered with the Saudi nonprofit entrepreneurship foundation Qotuf AlRiyadah.
The Jeddah-based company offers services for agencies and rental customers. First, its software program helps car rental agencies to manage their fleet of cars anywhere and anytime. Second, its platform for car rental customers allows them to make their bookings online with the same flexibility of time and place.
“At EjarTech, we noticed that the car rental experience is low on satisfaction. So we aim to digitize the car rental industry in Saudi Arabia to enhance its customer service,” Tareq Jendi, 34, told Arab News.
Jendi explained that many car rental agencies in the Kingdom are still functioning in the traditional way; they lack a good online service, and the booking process is carried out over the phone.
A platform such as EjarTech that gathers the different agencies in one website can help both the agencies with reaching customers and the customers with finding just what they need. In this way it contributes to the growth of car rental industry and accelerates its development.
Jendi said: “In order to digitize the car rental industry, we built a clouding base operational car rental software, which is linked with EjarTech’s platform for car rental bookings.”
EjarTech offers car rental agencies both its platform service and various IT support services, which distinguishes them from competitors.
“EjarTech offers instant synchronization on car rental operation and inventory, 24/7 technical support, ticketing system, advanced reporting, linkage to any financial clouding system for car rental agencies and a shared blacklisting portfolio to manage risks of defaulting car rental customers,” said Jendi.
Furthermore, EjarTech’s website conveniently operates on any device, and every car rental agency will be connected with EjarTech’s e-booking platform through its link directly.
“We are currently working on our mobile application, too,” Jendi said, adding that their customers’ satisfaction is crucial to their company’s success.
With its team of three employees, as well as its outsourced affiliate, EjarTech’s coverage is increasing regionally and it aims to expand its reach to the MENA region within the coming six years.
“Our biggest goal is to reach the MENA market by the year 2025,” said Jendi.
He noted that the goal can only be achieved if the company is able to meet the clients’ expectations by adopting the latest innovative technologies.
The company’s robust technological services are what keep them ahead of competitors; they are proud of it and aim to develop it further.
Startup of the Week: Car rental industry in the Kingdom undergoes digital transformation
Startup of the Week: Car rental industry in the Kingdom undergoes digital transformation
- EjarTech offers car rental agencies both its platform service and various IT support services, which distinguishes them from competitors
Makkah’s urban shift enhances the city’s quality of life
- By harmonizing its religious heritage with modern urban development, Makkah is proving that a city can honor its past while vigorously embracing the future
MAKKAH: Islam’s holiest city is currently witnessing a qualitative urban shift, one that seamlessly blends its profound spiritual sanctity with a modern, vibrant lifestyle. By integrating cultural, educational, and entertainment initiatives, Makkah is redefining the visitor experience and significantly enhancing the quality of life for its residents, directly supporting the goals of Saudi Vision 2030.
The city’s transformation was recently highlighted by the success of the Makkah winter season. The event attracted approximately 400,000 visitors — over 60% of whom were locals — demonstrating a strong domestic demand for high-quality public spaces.
The season revitalized community interaction, driving a 35% increase in visits to recreational sites and creating more than 1,200 temporary jobs for the local workforce.
Central to this urban renaissance is the Hira Cultural District. Since opening its doors in January 2023 near the historic Mount Hira, the district has become a definitive landmark that bridges Islamic history with contemporary identity.
Far from being a static monument, the district has cultivated a thriving creative economy. Its craftsmanship program, which features over 100 artisans, has generated up to SAR 3 million in sales and attracted 130,000 visitors to live workshops. These interactive spaces allow visitors to engage directly with the region’s heritage, moving beyond passive observation to active participation.
A living legacy
The shift extends to Makkah’s broader ecosystem of museums and cultural sites, which are now positioned as key pillars of cultural tourism. Facilities like the Revelation Exhibition use cutting-edge technology and multilingual content to narrate the story of the Holy Quran’s revelation, offering an immersive experience that complements the spiritual journey of pilgrims.
These efforts align with the “Makkah: A Living Legacy” campaign, which seeks to document the city’s historical narrative and preserve its collective memory. Recent months have seen a surge in educational workshops for university students and tour guides, ensuring that the human element of Makkah’s history is conveyed with accuracy and depth.
Economic and social impact
The results of this integrated approach are tangible. Specialized museums and restored historic sites now attract up to 1.6 million annual visitors. Crucially, this cultural enrichment is encouraging pilgrims to linger longer, increasing the average duration of stay by 18%.
By harmonizing its religious heritage with modern urban development, Makkah is proving that a city can honor its past while vigorously embracing the future, offering a holistic experience that nourishes both the soul and the community.
