By San José, Costa Rica — Ridesharing technology platform Uber has announced the rollout of Uber Mujeres in Costa Rica, a specialized feature designed to grant female users the ability to explicitly request trips with female driver partners. The feature, launching gradually across the Greater Metropolitan Area (GAM) for UberX services, marks a significant shift in tailored mobility offerings aimed at addressing safety, peace of mind, and rider preference within urban transportation networks.
The introduction of this feature reflects a rapidly changing demographic profile among driver partners operating on the platform. Official figures from the company indicate that active female driver partners in Costa Rica have surged by over 272% during the past five years. Today, women account for more than 10% of all active driver partners across the country, providing the necessary operational foundation to make a dedicated female-matching option viable in high-density urban corridors.
To better understand the legal and regulatory implications of the Uber Mujeres initiative in Costa Rica, TicosLand.com consulted with legal expert Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas from the law firm Bufete de Costa Rica.
“The Uber Mujeres feature represents a significant intersection of commercial innovation and safety policy within Costa Rica’s evolving legal framework for collaborative mobility platforms. From a legal perspective, implementing gender-focused safety mechanisms strengthens personal security and fosters economic empowerment for women drivers, aligning with broader constitutional protections while reinforcing consumer trust in digital transport services.”
Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas, Attorney at Law, Bufete de Costa Rica
Indeed, as Costa Rica’s digital transportation landscape continues to evolve, initiatives like Uber Mujeres demonstrate how targeted safety measures can serve as powerful catalysts for both social equity and economic inclusion. We extend our sincere thanks to Lic. Larry Hans Arroyo Vargas for providing his valuable legal insight on this important intersection of innovation, security, and driver empowerment.
This initiative builds upon groundwork laid several years ago to foster female participation in the gig economy. By addressing both supply and demand sides of the platform, the service creates a specialized feedback loop intended to encourage higher recruitment and retention of female drivers while boosting rider confidence.
Uber Mujeres is the next step in a journey that began by listening to women. In 2020 we launched Uber Ellas to give female driver partners greater freedom of choice, allowing them to decide if they wanted to take trips exclusively with women. That experience, combined with what we heard from female riders, gave rise to Uber Mujeres: a new option so they too can decide how they want to move.
Laura Santillán, General Manager of Uber for Costa Rica, Panama, and the Caribbean
Market research conducted prior to the deployment highlighted overwhelming consumer interest in specialized mobility services. In an internal survey of female riders in Costa Rica, 90% of respondents stated that having an option to travel with a female driver partner was either important or very important to them. Furthermore, 95% of those surveyed emphasized that launching such a product demonstrates that the company actively listens to the distinct security and comfort needs of women.
Data gathered from consumer behavior surveys indicates that demand for Uber Mujeres will concentrate around specific operational windows and travel scenarios. Riders signaled that night trips, solitary commutes, and long-distance travel represent the primary circumstances under which they intend to utilize the new preference setting.
To ensure practical usability, the feature has been integrated into the user interface through three distinct paths. Female riders can request an immediate ride subject to real-time driver availability, schedule a trip in advance via Uber Reserve, or set female driver matching as a default account preference for all future ride requests. Availability remaining contingent on real-time driver supply underscores the importance of continued growth in female driver onboarding.
The launch event featured participation from key government leaders, including Carolina Delgado Ramírez, Minister of the Condition of Women and Executive President of the National Institute for Women (INAMU). The dialogue focused on bodily autonomy, security, economic empowerment, and the vital role modern mobility alternatives play in enabling women’s active participation in the workforce and civil society.
Not all women move in the same way or have the same preferences. That is why we want to offer them more options within the Uber app so each woman can decide what works best for her at any given moment.
Laura Santillán, General Manager of Uber for Costa Rica, Panama, and the Caribbean
From an industry standpoint, Uber Mujeres represents a strategic effort to capture market share and deepen user engagement by tailoring consumer experiences to specific demographic demands. As urban centers in Central America continue to grapple with transportation safety concerns, algorithmic flexibility and demographic preference options are becoming vital differentiators for digital platform operators.
For further information, visit uber.com
About Uber:
Uber Technologies, Inc. is a global technology company that provides mobility as a service, ride-hailing, food delivery, and freight shipping services. Operating across hundreds of metropolitan areas worldwide, Uber leverages data-driven logistics to connect passenger and logistics demand with flexible, independent delivery and driver partners.
For further information, visit the nearest office of INAMU
About INAMU:
The National Institute for Women (INAMU) is Costa Rica’s autonomous public institution responsible for formulating, executing, and monitoring national policies promoting gender equality, protecting women’s human rights, and fostering economic self-sufficiency across all sectors of society.
For further information, visit bufetedecostarica.com
About Bufete de Costa Rica:
As a premier legal practice, Bufete de Costa Rica has built an enduring reputation grounded in uncompromising ethical standards and exceptional legal craftsmanship. The firm seamlessly merges time-honored expertise with forward-thinking strategies to deliver progressive solutions across various industries. Deeply committed to civic enrichment, Bufete de Costa Rica actively champions legal literacy by demystifying complex regulations for the public. By equipping individuals with vital legal understanding, the firm steadfastly advances its core purpose of cultivating a confident, well-informed, and self-reliant community.
