Grab tests Women-Only Rides feature: Here is how it works and how to get verified

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 14 — Grab has introduced a new Women-Only Rides (Beta) feature in Malaysia, providing female passengers exclusive rides with female driver-partners. This feature aims to enhance personal safety and comfort for women traveling alone or late at night. However, the service requires a mandatory identity verification process before becoming accessible within the app, preventing instant, on-demand e-hailing bookings.

To utilize Women-Only Rides, passengers must complete Advance Booking, which grants the system sufficient lead time to assign a suitable female driver-partner. Minimum lead times range from 75 minutes to up to 90 days in advance, but the service is currently limited to city rides only, excluding airport transfers and intercity journeys.

The current rollout is confined to the Klang Valley, though the app suggests availability in Johor and Penang. Driver-partners are instructed to cancel trips if adult males are present, with the exception of female passengers traveling with male children aged 12 and below. To access Women-Only Rides, passengers must undergo a one-time identity verification process using MyKad or passport, with the system cross-referencing official records to confirm female identities.

Verification steps include tapping designated sections in the app to declare gender and submit identity documents, with approval reportedly taking up to three working days. Once verified, the Women-Only Rides option becomes visible under the 'Standard' category for Advance Booking.