10.49 AM Friday, 29 March 2024
  • City Fajr Shuruq Duhr Asr Magrib Isha
  • Dubai 04:56 06:10 12:26 15:53 18:37 19:52
29 March 2024

Why you will always pay at least Dh12 for Dubai taxi

When booking taxi in advance, the rates are higher. (Ahmad Ardity)

Published
By Majorie van Leijen

The charge for a taxi trip in Dubai was recently increased with a hike in the flag-down rates.

Similarly, the minimum fare for a taxi ride is also increased to Dh12 - a Dh2 increase from the previous Dh10 charge for any trip made in the emirate.

The increase was implemented simultaneously with the regular fare hike on December 1, said Youssef Al Ali, Director Public Transport Agency, Roads and Transport Authority.

Since the beginning of this month, flagging down a cab costs more. Instead of a Dh3 starting rate, the passenger pays Dh5 when the taxi is stopped on the street.

When booking a taxi in advance, the rates are higher, and similar to the regular fare have also increased. During off-peak hours, the starting fare is now Dh8 instead of Dh6, and during peak hours this is Dh12 instead of Dh10.

“The only rate that has remained the same is the rate per kilometer,” said Al Ali out, referring to the Dh1.71 that is charged for every kilometer crossed.

The minimum fare charge can be a surprising element in the taxi ride, with newcomers often wondering how their short trip had come to cost the double-digit fare.

However, the now Dh12 charge does serve a purpose. “We want to encourage taxi drivers to accept the short trips,” said Al Ali.

Although taxi drivers are legally bound to accept any trip requested unless he is hired or on the way to a customer, commuters have often complained of the reluctance of some drivers to take the customer when hearing the destination.

The minimum fare increase should form an incentive to drivers to accept any trip, said the director.

Last week ‘Emirates24|7’ compared taxi fares in nine cosmopolitan cities with the charge for a taxi ride in Dubai, which has been claimed to be among the cheapest in the world.

Indeed, the flag-down rate in Dubai is economical compared to the price paid by city-dwellers in Tokyo, New York, or Amsterdam.

However, the minimum charge does not apply in many of the cities compared, with an exception being Paris, where commuters pay a shocking Dh31.43 (EUR6,86) for any trip made.

Every city has its specific fare-structure meeting the specific travel demands, noted Al Ali.

“While in some cities a minimum fare is charged, on other cities an additional charge is applied when more than 2 people make use of the trip, or when more than two bags are carried along. In Dubai, many short trips are made, especially since the introduction of Dubai Metro. This fare structure suits the specific needs of Dubai.”

The decision applies to Dubai taxi vehicles and taxis operated by other franchise companies under the umbrella of the RTA and are implemented over a three-week period.