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Apple Maps Gets Traffic Data for Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates

Tuesday April 25, 2017 2:35 AM PDT by Tim Hardwick

Apple has updated its Maps app with traffic data for major metropolitan areas in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

So far, the new coverage extends to the capitals of the two countries and other heavily populated areas, with more limited traffic information on major highways and thoroughfares also available.

Examples in UAE include Abu Dhabi, Fujairah, and Al Ain, with locations in Saudi Arabia including Jeddah, Mecca, Medina, and Ta'if.

Turn-by-turn navigation still appears to be unavailable in the Middle East regions, which may explain why Apple hasn't added the countries to its iOS feature availability page, but the inclusion of traffic data strongly suggests Apple is about to follow up with live direction information.

The update marks Apple's first visible effort to increase its geographical data services to the Middle East beyond the standard street information and notable points of interest.

(Thanks, Ram!)

Tag: Apple Maps

Top Rated Comments

hagar

115 months ago

Being gay is punishable by death in UAE. Cook will overlook that for money, and then pick up another humanitarian award in a couple of weeks.

Women also don't have any rights. I assume therefore the US government does not maintain any relations with Saoudi Arabia, or buy any of its oil. Ooh wait...

Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Megakazbek

115 months ago

Being gay is punishable by death in UAE. Cook will overlook that for money, and then pick up another humanitarian award in a couple of weeks.

You can either have nothing to do with that country and let this medievality continue to happen indefinitely, or you try to export and spread your western culture and technology and make them absorb western values along with it.

Score: 5 Votes (Like | Disagree)

canny

115 months ago

Being gay is punishable by death in UAE. Cook will overlook that for money, and then pick up another humanitarian award in a couple of weeks.

Score: 4 Votes (Like | Disagree)

Creek0512

115 months ago

Being gay is punishable by death in UAE. Cook will overlook that for money, and then pick up another humanitarian award in a couple of weeks.

Tim Cook has lived most of his life in a country where it was illegal to be gay. Lawrence was only 14 years ago.

Score: 3 Votes (Like | Disagree)

bitfactory

115 months ago

Traffic is most likely light since women aren't allowed to drive there.

Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)

markiv810

115 months ago

I hope Apple makes for India too.

Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)

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