A British woman on holiday in Dubai has been honoured for her help stopping an unlicensed taxi driver from working illegally after he financially exploited her.
Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority thanked her for her part in combating these illegal practices.
The woman had landed at Dubai International Airport and was seeking a taxi when she was approached by a driver who offered her a lift to her hotel in Bur Dubai.
Not knowing the man was offering an illegal service, she accepted the ride and was charged an abnormally high fare.
“She noted that the fare was so high, when compared to a similar fare in London, and reported the matter to the hotel management," said Mohammed Nabhan, director of Passenger Transport Activities Monitoring at RTA’s Public Transport Agency.
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Hotel staff advised the tourist to report the case to the RTA who tracked down the driver and arrested him within two hours of the complaint.
The arrest is the latest in a series of measures undertaken by the RTA to crack down on unlicensed taxi services.
Drivers caught flouting the law are arrested and their vehicle is impounded.
“The driver’s permit will be abolished and recurring offenders will be subjected to administrative deportation,” said Mr Nabhan.
He said the purpose of such campaigns are not to collect fines from offenders, rather to curb illegal transport practices, reduce complaints — particularly at airports, tourist destinations and malls — and to protect customers and legitimate companies.
“Penalties also aim to ensure the enforcement of governing rules and regulations and to step up the efficiency of field inspectors to curb illegal conduct on the part of taxi drivers and chauffeurs,” he said.