In this investigation, we reveal how a parallel reality is unfolding on the streets of Jordan: a full ecosystem of illegal smart ride-hailing apps operating openly. This continues despite the Ministry of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship’s March 2024 announcement that it would block 24 unlicensed smart ride-hailing apps in the country. At the same time, some of the companies behind these “unlicensed” apps claim they have applied multiple times for the required licenses but have yet to receive approval.