Mubasher: Ekar, the UAE-based carsharing operator in the Middle East, has launched a peer-to-peer carsharing service in Saudi Arabia.

ekar, which has 270,000 members, highlighted that there are two distinct peer-to-peer hosting options; short- and long-term, according to a press release on Wednesday.

Short-term users can deliver cars for a minimum of eight hours, eight days a month from the location of their choice.

On the other hand, long-term hosts can grant their vehicles for a minimum of one month according to Riyadh's ekar free-floating carsharing system.

The registered cars can enjoy proceeds of up to SAR 10,000 per month, depending on their type and hosting duration.

Founder of Ekar, Vilhelm Hedberg, said: "Ride-hailing companies did an excellent job introducing the gig economy to car owners, allowing them to become chauffeurs and make additional income. ekar hosts, on the other hand, can inject their cars into ekar's platform from the comfort of their couch, and we handle the rest."