Dubai's RTA hikes fares for pre-booked taxis

Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has increased the price of pre-booked taxis during peak hours, in a bid to raise the incomes of taxi drivers. Charges for pre-booked taxis between 7am and 10am and 4pm and 8pm, Saturday to Wednesday, will have a higher flag-down rate of AED10, up from AED6, the RTA said. The new fare will be extended on Thursdays, Fridays, religious holidays, official holidays and official events from 4pm to 12am, and will come into effect on April 15. The RTA said the move will increase the availability of cabs and therefore drivers’ business during busy periods, as well as reducing misuse among customers. "The RTA has taken this decision after conducting a number of studies and field surveys to review the obstacles that plague cab drivers' daily work and impede the provision of better services,” said Essa Abdul Rahman Al Dosari, CEO of RTA Public Transport Agency. "This step also aims to up cabbies' daily business conduct and uplift their performance. Additionally, this step will also boost cabbies' role in advancing the caliber of taxicabs services in Dubai and at the same time enable cabbies to increase their incomes." He added that the decision would also minimise cabbies' reluctance to pick up passengers, allowing taxis to achieve a higher public satisfaction rating and cater for the growing demand for taxis. The new rule will apply to taxicabs run by Dubai Taxi Corporation, as well as franchise companies operating under RTA umbrella. Al Dosari assured the public that the increase would only apply to those who pre-book taxis, who account for just five percent of all taxi users.