New public taxis set to hit Abu Dhabi roads on Nov 4

ABU DHABI — The new public taxi scheme for Abu Dhabi will be launched on Saturday and will commence operations the next day, Sunday, according to an announcement made by Abu Dhabi’s Centre for Regulation of Transport by Hire Cars.

By M. A. Qudoos

Published: Thu 1 Nov 2007, 9:24 AM

Last updated: Sun 5 Apr 2015, 4:33 AM

To mark this eagerly-anticipated event, a convoy of the new fleet will parade the city’s streets on Saturday to showcase the capital’s new icon. The new taxis will also be displayed in shopping malls to give the public an opportunity to get a closer look at the cars themselves and the new special features installed in them.

The new taxi system is in line with the recently declared strategy of the Department of Transport for providing simple and safe transport to all the residents and visitors of Abu Dhabi emirate. The Centre has endeavoured to ensure that all new taxis are of high quality and are based on international specifications and standards of safety.

“This weekend marks a new chapter in Abu Dhabi’s emergence as a fast-developing modern world city.

“Whereas London has its black taxis, and New York has its yellow ones, we believe that our new fleet will become an icon for our emirate,” commented Khaled Saleh Al Rashedi, general manager of The Centre for Regulation of Transport by Hire Cars.

“These cars will not only become an icon of our emirate but will also represent a new era in comfort and safety for passengers. This has been a result of public feedback and lengthy, substantial discussions with many parties.

“The implementation programme of this new taxi scheme is completely in line with the prosperity that Abu Dhabi is witnessing in all sectors.

“We are confident that the new taxis will be received very positively by the public and they would use these taxis as a substitute for their own cars and help us all reduce traffic in the emirate,” added Al Rashedi.

To ensure that all residents are aware of the new taxi scheme being implemented, including all information regarding the new fleet, the Centre will be launching an emirate-wide campaign this week.

On the day of the launch (Saturday), the design and colour scheme of the new fleet will be revealed for the first time and a convoy of the new taxis will make a two-hour trip around the city’s main streets, including the Corniche, at 5.30pm.

The phasing out of old taxis will begin only in January 2008 and the Centre will communicate details to the taxi license owners in coming weeks. A part of this communication has already been sent in October.