diff --git a/app/(api)/user+api.ts b/app/(api)/user+api.ts
index 8bfbcfd..f82e27d 100644
--- a/app/(api)/user+api.ts
+++ b/app/(api)/user+api.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,26 @@
 import { neon } from "@neondatabase/serverless";
 
+export async function GET(req: Request) {
+  const sql = neon(process.env.DATABASE_URL!);
+  const clerkId = new URL(req.url).searchParams.get("clerkId");
+
+  if (!clerkId) {
+    return Response.json({ error: "Missing clerkId" }, { status: 400 });
+  }
+
+  try {
+    const response = await sql`
+      SELECT id, name, email, role FROM users WHERE clerk_id = ${clerkId}
+    `;
+
+    return Response.json({ data: response[0] ?? null });
+  } catch (error) {
+    console.log("[GET_USER]: ", error);
+
+    return Response.json({ error }, { status: 500 });
+  }
+}
+
 export async function POST(req: Request) {
   const sql = neon(process.env.DATABASE_URL!);
   const { name, email, clerkId } = await req.json();
@@ -36,3 +57,31 @@ export async function POST(req: Request) {
     return Response.json({ error }, { status: 500 });
   }
 }
+
+export async function PATCH(req: Request) {
+  const sql = neon(process.env.DATABASE_URL!);
+  const { clerkId, role } = await req.json();
+
+  if (!clerkId || !["rider", "driver"].includes(role)) {
+    return Response.json(
+      { error: "Missing clerkId or invalid role." },
+      { status: 400 },
+    );
+  }
+
+  try {
+    const response = await sql`
+      UPDATE users SET role = ${role} WHERE clerk_id = ${clerkId} RETURNING id, role
+    `;
+
+    if (response.length === 0) {
+      return Response.json({ error: "User not found." }, { status: 404 });
+    }
+
+    return Response.json({ data: response[0] });
+  } catch (error) {
+    console.log("[PATCH_USER]: ", error);
+
+    return Response.json({ error }, { status: 500 });
+  }
+}
diff --git a/app/(auth)/sign-up.tsx b/app/(auth)/sign-up.tsx
index 9e85d26..9500a15 100644
--- a/app/(auth)/sign-up.tsx
+++ b/app/(auth)/sign-up.tsx
@@ -236,7 +236,7 @@ const SignUp = () => {
 
             <CustomButton
               title="Browse Home"
-              onPress={() => router.push("/(root)/(tabs)/home")}
+              onPress={() => router.push("/")}
               className="mt-5"
             />
           </View>
diff --git a/app/(root)/(tabs)/home.tsx b/app/(root)/(tabs)/home.tsx
index 5d485e1..f538675 100644
--- a/app/(root)/(tabs)/home.tsx
+++ b/app/(root)/(tabs)/home.tsx
@@ -48,24 +48,37 @@ const Home = () => {
 
   useEffect(() => {
     const requestLocation = async () => {
-      let { status } = await Location.requestForegroundPermissionsAsync();
+      try {
+        let { status } = await Location.requestForegroundPermissionsAsync();
 
-      if (status !== "granted") return setHasPermissions(false);
+        if (status !== "granted") return setHasPermissions(false);
 
-      setHasPermissions(true);
+        setHasPermissions(true);
 
-      let location = await Location.getCurrentPositionAsync();
+        let location = await Location.getCurrentPositionAsync();
 
-      const address = await Location.reverseGeocodeAsync({
-        longitude: location.coords?.longitude,
-        latitude: location.coords?.latitude,
-      });
+        let addressText = "Unknown location";
+        try {
+          const address = await Location.reverseGeocodeAsync({
+            longitude: location.coords?.longitude,
+            latitude: location.coords?.latitude,
+          });
+          if (address[0]) {
+            addressText = `${address[0].name}, ${address[0].region}`;
+          }
+        } catch (geocodeErr) {
+          console.log("[REVERSE_GEOCODE]: ", geocodeErr);
+        }
 
-      setUserLocation({
-        latitude: location.coords.latitude,
-        longitude: location.coords.longitude,
-        address: `${address[0].name}, ${address[0].region}`,
-      });
+        setUserLocation({
+          latitude: location.coords.latitude,
+          longitude: location.coords.longitude,
+          address: addressText,
+        });
+      } catch (err) {
+        console.log("[LOCATION]: ", err);
+        setHasPermissions(false);
+      }
     };
 
     requestLocation();
@@ -143,7 +156,16 @@ const Home = () => {
             </Text>
 
             <View className="flex flex-row items-center bg-transparent h-[300px]">
-              {hasPermissions && <Map />}
+              {hasPermissions ? (
+                <Map />
+              ) : (
+                <View className="flex-1 items-center justify-center bg-white rounded-2xl h-full">
+                  <Text className="text-general-200 text-center font-JakartaMedium px-5">
+                    Location access is off.{"\n"}Enable it in your device
+                    settings to see nearby drivers.
+                  </Text>
+                </View>
+              )}
             </View>
 
             <Text className="text-xl font-JakartaBold mt-5 mb-3">
diff --git a/app/(root)/_layout.tsx b/app/(root)/_layout.tsx
index 01142a2..6d7fee3 100644
--- a/app/(root)/_layout.tsx
+++ b/app/(root)/_layout.tsx
@@ -7,6 +7,11 @@ const RootLayout = () => {
       <Stack.Screen name="find-ride" options={{ headerShown: false }} />
       <Stack.Screen name="confirm-ride" options={{ headerShown: false }} />
       <Stack.Screen name="book-ride" options={{ headerShown: false }} />
+      <Stack.Screen name="role" options={{ headerShown: false }} />
+      <Stack.Screen
+        name="driver-home"
+        options={{ headerShown: false, gestureEnabled: false }}
+      />
     </Stack>
   );
 };
diff --git a/app/(root)/driver-home.tsx b/app/(root)/driver-home.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..625bd05
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/(root)/driver-home.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,41 @@
+import { useClerk, useUser } from "@clerk/clerk-expo";
+import { Image, Text, View } from "react-native";
+import { SafeAreaView } from "react-native-safe-area-context";
+
+import { CustomButton } from "@/components/custom-button";
+import { images } from "@/constants";
+
+// Placeholder driver home. The driver experience (going online, accepting
+// rides) is not built yet — drivers are registered here and managed in the
+// database for now.
+const DriverHome = () => {
+  const { user } = useUser();
+  const { signOut } = useClerk();
+
+  return (
+    <SafeAreaView className="flex-1 bg-white justify-center items-center px-7">
+      <Image
+        source={images.check}
+        alt="Registered"
+        className="w-[110px] h-[110px] mb-5"
+      />
+
+      <Text className="text-2xl font-JakartaBold text-center">
+        You&apos;re registered as a driver, {user?.firstName || "there"}!
+      </Text>
+
+      <Text className="text-base text-general-200 font-Jakarta text-center mt-3">
+        Driver mode is coming soon. We&apos;ll contact you at{" "}
+        {user?.emailAddresses[0]?.emailAddress} once your account is activated.
+      </Text>
+
+      <CustomButton
+        title="Sign Out"
+        onPress={() => signOut()}
+        className="mt-10"
+      />
+    </SafeAreaView>
+  );
+};
+
+export default DriverHome;
diff --git a/app/(root)/role.tsx b/app/(root)/role.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..20131ee
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/(root)/role.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,77 @@
+import { useUser } from "@clerk/clerk-expo";
+import { router } from "expo-router";
+import { useState } from "react";
+import { Alert, Text, TouchableOpacity, View } from "react-native";
+import { SafeAreaView } from "react-native-safe-area-context";
+
+import { fetchAPI } from "@/lib/fetch";
+
+const RoleSelection = () => {
+  const { user } = useUser();
+  const [saving, setSaving] = useState(false);
+
+  const chooseRole = async (role: "rider" | "driver") => {
+    if (!user?.id || saving) return;
+
+    setSaving(true);
+
+    try {
+      const { error } = await fetchAPI("/(api)/user", {
+        method: "PATCH",
+        headers: { "Content-Type": "application/json" },
+        body: JSON.stringify({ clerkId: user.id, role }),
+      });
+
+      if (error) throw new Error(error);
+
+      router.replace(
+        role === "driver" ? "/(root)/driver-home" : "/(root)/(tabs)/home",
+      );
+    } catch (err) {
+      console.log("[ROLE_SELECT]: ", err);
+      Alert.alert("Error", "Could not save your choice. Please try again.");
+    } finally {
+      setSaving(false);
+    }
+  };
+
+  return (
+    <SafeAreaView className="flex-1 bg-white justify-center px-7">
+      <Text className="text-3xl font-JakartaExtraBold text-center">
+        How will you use Waseel?
+      </Text>
+
+      <Text className="text-base text-general-200 font-Jakarta text-center mt-3 mb-10">
+        You can change this later by contacting support.
+      </Text>
+
+      <TouchableOpacity
+        onPress={() => chooseRole("rider")}
+        disabled={saving}
+        className="bg-primary-500 rounded-2xl p-7 mb-5 items-center"
+      >
+        <Text className="text-5xl mb-3">🧍</Text>
+        <Text className="text-2xl font-JakartaBold text-white">
+          I&apos;m a Rider
+        </Text>
+        <Text className="text-sm font-Jakarta text-white/80 text-center mt-2">
+          Book rides and get around Lebanon
+        </Text>
+      </TouchableOpacity>
+
+      <TouchableOpacity
+        onPress={() => chooseRole("driver")}
+        disabled={saving}
+        className="bg-general-600 rounded-2xl p-7 items-center"
+      >
+        <Text className="text-5xl mb-3">🚗</Text>
+        <Text className="text-2xl font-JakartaBold">I&apos;m a Driver</Text>
+        <Text className="text-sm font-Jakarta text-general-200 text-center mt-2">
+          Give rides and earn money
+        </Text>
+      </TouchableOpacity>
+    </SafeAreaView>
+  );
+};
+
+export default RoleSelection;
diff --git a/app/index.tsx b/app/index.tsx
index 9bfbb92..0aa4b6a 100644
--- a/app/index.tsx
+++ b/app/index.tsx
@@ -1,12 +1,38 @@
 import { useAuth } from "@clerk/clerk-expo";
 import { Redirect } from "expo-router";
+import { useEffect, useState } from "react";
+import { ActivityIndicator, View } from "react-native";
+
+import { fetchAPI } from "@/lib/fetch";
 
 const App = () => {
-  const { isSignedIn } = useAuth();
+  const { isSignedIn, userId } = useAuth();
+  const [role, setRole] = useState<string | null | undefined>(undefined);
 
-  if (isSignedIn) return <Redirect href="/(root)/(tabs)/home" />;
+  useEffect(() => {
+    if (!isSignedIn || !userId) return;
 
-  return <Redirect href="/(auth)/welcome" />;
+    fetchAPI(`/(api)/user?clerkId=${userId}`)
+      .then((res) => setRole(res?.data?.role ?? null))
+      .catch(() => setRole(null));
+  }, [isSignedIn, userId]);
+
+  if (!isSignedIn) return <Redirect href="/(auth)/welcome" />;
+
+  // Still loading the user's role from the database.
+  if (role === undefined) {
+    return (
+      <View className="flex-1 items-center justify-center bg-white">
+        <ActivityIndicator size="large" color="#0286FF" />
+      </View>
+    );
+  }
+
+  if (role === "driver") return <Redirect href="/(root)/driver-home" />;
+  if (role === "rider") return <Redirect href="/(root)/(tabs)/home" />;
+
+  // Signed in but no role chosen yet.
+  return <Redirect href="/(root)/role" />;
 };
 
 export default App;
diff --git a/components/oauth.tsx b/components/oauth.tsx
index 16713cd..0dc56ef 100644
--- a/components/oauth.tsx
+++ b/components/oauth.tsx
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ export const OAuth = ({ title }: OAuthProps) => {
       const result = await googleOAuth(startOAuthFlow);
 
       if (result?.code === "session_exists" || result?.code === "success") {
-        router.replace("/(root)/(tabs)/home");
+        router.replace("/");
       }
     } catch (err: any) {
       console.error("OAuth error", err);
diff --git a/scripts/seed-db.mjs b/scripts/seed-db.mjs
index e1a2b01..6e5e014 100644
--- a/scripts/seed-db.mjs
+++ b/scripts/seed-db.mjs
@@ -26,9 +26,13 @@ await sql`CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS users (
   name VARCHAR(255) NOT NULL,
   email VARCHAR(255) NOT NULL,
   clerk_id VARCHAR(255) NOT NULL,
+  role VARCHAR(20),
   created_at TIMESTAMP DEFAULT CURRENT_TIMESTAMP
 )`;
 
+// For databases created before roles existed.
+await sql`ALTER TABLE users ADD COLUMN IF NOT EXISTS role VARCHAR(20)`;
+
 await sql`CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS drivers (
   id SERIAL PRIMARY KEY,
   first_name VARCHAR(100) NOT NULL,