Uber To Halt App In Brussels, Belgium From Friday After Court Ruling

1 min readUpdated May 18, 2025Nov 26, 20218:24 AM

Uber Technologies Inc. said it would halt operations in Brussels from Nov. 26 after a court ruled that a 2015 ban on private individuals offering taxi services also applies to professional drivers.

Uber said the decision by the Brussels Appeals Court on Wednesday will affect around 2,000 drivers, and it urged the Belgian government to quickly change taxi service laws.

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What this means

Uber's temporary withdrawal from Brussels, forced by a court upholding a dated ban on private taxi services, signals significant regulatory risk for gig economy players across Europe. Unlike Chagee Holdings targeting new Asian markets with clear expansion strategies, Uber here faces legislative headwinds that could impede growth in established cities. This move places pressure on the Belgian government to modernise its taxi laws, a critical step if it wishes to attract or retain innovative transport services. The immediate risk is a loss of market share for Uber and service disruption for local consumers. This situation demonstrates the vulnerability of platform businesses to adverse legal interpretations. All eyes are now on how swiftly the Belgian government responds to Uber’s plea for updated regulations.

Wei Zhang · Retail News Asia newsroom

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