Dubai’s RTA Reveals Hike In Taximeter Starting Rate From Dec 1

Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has announced that, from December 1, taxi flag-down charges will be hiked from Dhs3 to Dhs5 during the peak hour timings of 7-10 am and 4-8 pm.

The modification of the taximeter starting rate was done to integrate the service with the Nol cards package recently launched by the RTA, which covers all mass transit modes including the Metro, Dubai Tram, public buses and marine transport, the RTA said in a statement.

The flag-down rate of orders from the Booking & Dispatch Center will also be hiked from Dhs6 to Dhs8 during off-peak hours; while during morning and evening peak hours, the flag-down rate will range from Dhs10 to Dhs12.

This modification is applicable from Saturday to Wednesday, while peak hours start from 4pm to 12am on Thursdays and Fridays, the statement added.

Dr. Yousef Mohammed Al Ali, CEO of RTA Public Transport Agency, said, “The modification of flag-down rates was intended to leverage the service on offer to the public by deploying as many taxicabs as possible and ensuring that the service reaches out to customers in a timely manner, especially during morning and evening peak hours.

“This decision is taken after the RTA has commissioned a number of field studies and surveys and benchmarking with a number of the world’s most developed cities in all areas, including taxis transport sector.”

Dubai’s taxi fares are the cheapest when compared to rates in cities such as London, New York, Amsterdam, Paris, Singapore and Tokyo, according to the RTA.

The move is also hoped to upgrade the daily practices and performance of cabdrivers and help support them to increase their incomes, the statement said.

“The decision will significantly contribute to putting an end to the phenomenon of cabdrivers refusing to pick up passengers, winning public satisfaction and meeting the growing demand for this private service,” the RTA said.

The new move will apply to all the Dubai taxi vehicles and taxis operated by other franchise companies under the umbrella of the RTA.

The upgrade of taximeters is expected to be completed within three weeks starting from December 1.