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

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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.

Middle East Maps
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!)

Top Rated Comments

120 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)
120 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)
canny Avatar
120 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)
120 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)
120 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.

Yeah let's crucify TC for what the UAE does. He should be more like you right and not have any dealing with that country. So I'm guessing you don't put gas in your vehicle or light and heat your home with anything that derives from oil? Or eat and wear any products that gets transported with oil products that come from the UAE?

Yes, yes I'm sure you did all that so you can have righteous indignation against TC.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
bitfactory Avatar
120 months ago
Traffic is most likely light since women aren't allowed to drive there.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)

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