Dubai Hala taxi service lays down stringent health and hygiene rules in the wake of Covid-19

Taxi drivers operating under “Hala” service will be required to pass a temperature test before picking up passengers, part of an upgrade of the service’s health and hygiene standards in the wake of Covid-19.

When the driver logs on to the Careem app, he must confirm that he has passed a temperature check, that he is wearing a face mask, and he has sanitised his hands and has hand sanitiser in his car. He will not be able to accept any bookings before he has done this, the company said.

Hala is a joint venture between Dubai’s RTA and Careem, the region’s first ride-hailing service, now owned by Uber.

Drivers must also continue following existing requirements including wearing a mask, utilising hygiene supplies, and keep best practices of hand sanitisation. Hala said it will enhance driver training programme to reinforce health protocols.

Additional measures include the ventilation of the taxi after each ride, and a directive for drivers to remain in their seats at all times unless a rider specifically requests assistance.

Dubai Hala taxis will also undergo a full Vital Oxide sanitisation every day, alongside the installation of isolating screens and sanitising materials in every car.

Additional in-app payment methods will be rolled out, allowing riders to make hands-free payments from the app, removing any need for exchanging cash or using card machines.

An inspection of taxis in Dubai by the RTA carried out two weeks ago on 6,500 taxis found nearly 650 breaches of social-distancing rules put in place during the Covid-19 outbreak.

The violations were spotted during a campaign carried out by the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), which regulates transport in Dubai.