Dubai taxi fares increase after fuel price rises

Rates for every kilometre have gone up by 12 fils

Taxi journeys in Dubai will be slightly more expensive. Antonie Robertson / The National

Taxi fares in Dubai have gone up, an update from the Dubai Taxi Company has revealed.

According to the company’s official website, the charge is now Dh2.09 a kilometre – up 12 fils from the previous Dh1.97 a kilometre.

The new rate reflects fuel use only. The minimum fare, or flag fall rate, of Dh12 remains unchanged.

The announcement is in line with Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority’s policy on “dynamic” prices.

“Any change in taxi fares is a dynamic change based on the fluctuating fuel prices in the local market and is calculated based on fuel usage per kilometre,” it said.

The rise in price comes after petrol prices rose in February, March and April, after dropping in November, December and January, reflecting the trends in the global oil market. Super 98 cost Dh2.82 a litre in January and increased to Dh3.34 a litre in May.

Special 95 petrol costs Dh3.22 a litre, up from Dh3.03, while E-Plus 91 petrol is charged at Dh3.15 a litre, having cost Dh2.96 a litre previously.

The Dubai Taxi Company reported an increase in revenue and profits in the first quarter this year.

Profit after tax came in at Dh108 million, up from Dh94 million in 2023, as its taxi and limousine fleet completed 12 million trips.

“We maintained strong momentum into the first quarter of 2024, delivering revenue growth of 15 per cent year on year, which drove a 40 per cent increase in ebitda [earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and armotisation],” said chief executive Mansoor Alfalasi.

“During the quarter, we announced the doubling of our fleet of airport taxis and acquired 94 new taxi licences at the latest RTA auction, further cementing our position as the largest taxi operator in Dubai.

“We are committed to supporting Dubai’s mobility landscape as the emirate’s urban areas continue to expand, by offering solutions that meet the diverse needs of Dubai’s residents and through adopting technologies that enable efficient operations and enhance utilisation.”