The canister was thrown at the drivers after they left their cars, witness Lamia el-Etriby said. They had blocked all but one lane, causing a major traffic jam as police vehicles arrived at the area.
Taxi drivers have been protesting Uber’s presence in the country in recent weeks, leading to a decline in the availability of cars on the app as Uber drivers fear being stopped by taxi drivers or the police.
Domestic newspapers have published unconfirmed reports of officials saying drivers from Uber and Careem — another car hailing app — were violating Egyptian law.
Uber will be having talks with government officials this week to find solutions to this standoff and ways to coexist, Uber Egypt general manager Anthony el-Khoury told the Associated Press.
David Plouffe, Uber’s chief adviser and a member of the board of directors, told AP he will participate in these talks during a visit to Egypt.
Taxi drivers say Uber drivers have an unfair advantage because they do not pay the same rate of taxes.