Abu Dhabi taxis still among cheapest after fare hike, cab chief says

The flagfall for taxis in Abu Dhabi will rise from Dh3.50 to Dh5 during the day (6am to 10pm), and from Dh4 to Dh5.50 at all other times. Ravindranath K / The National

ABU DHABI // Taxi fares in the capital remain among the lowest of major cities of the world despite a price rise, the head of Abu Dhabi’s taxi regulator said on Monday.

Mohammed Darwish Al Qamzi, general manager of Abu Dhabi Integrated Transport Centre (formerly called TransAd), said the move will allow them to improve practices to bring standards in line with the best in the world.

“The revision of the tariff of taxis operating in Abu Dhabi emirate, approved by Abu Dhabi Executive Council, is part of efforts to enhance the quality of service provided to taxi riders,” he said.

“It also supports the technological advancement witnessed by the transport sector in the emirate, and contributes to providing services capable of enhancing the satisfaction of taxicab users.”

The new tariff structure will take effect a month after publication in the Official Gazette, though it has not been revealed when this will be.

The changes include setting higher starting fees and per-kilometre rates, as well as an increase in the fee for booking a taxi through the call centre, which is going from Dh3 to Dh4 during the day and from Dh4 to Dh5 at night.

The flagfall for taxis will rise from Dh3.50 to Dh5 during the day (6am to 10pm), and from Dh4 to Dh5.50 at all other times. The charge per kilometre will be Dh1.82 for both day and night trips, while the waiting fee remains the same at Dh0.50 per minute. If a trip costs less than Dh12, the customer must also pay the difference.

The price rise will help boost the quality of services by broadening the scope of smart transport services, as well as launching initiatives with taxi operators to provide a safe journey and implement best practices, Mr Al Qamzi said.

The quality of transport services, he said, will also greatly help attract tourists.

The step is also intended to further improve the performance of cab drivers and educate them to maintain passenger safety and security, Mr Al Qamzi added.

The Integrated Transport Centre would ensure as many taxis were on the road as possible, and that service would be prompt, especially in rush hour, he said.

On Sunday, passengers gave mixed opinions, while cab drivers said the new fares would not help boost their income or provide them with extra motivation to improve services.

The growing number of licensed and unlicensed taxis have made it harder for the city’s 10,000 drivers to find customers. With a Dh12 minimum fare, many will consider using illegal taxis or public transport, cabbies said.

Mushamil Khan, a 40-year-old taxi driver from Afghanistan, is among the licensed cab drivers under immense pressure to meet targets, often working up to 15 hours every day to bring in the D13,200 needed in one month to get a Dh4,000 commission.