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Dubai launches campaign against illegal taxis

Official says it is difficult to quantify the magnitude of the illegal practice as it involves several types of vehicles and the drivers change pickup points to avoid being raided.

The Public Transport Agency of the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has launched the Saher campaign to combat the illegal transportation of passengers in the Emirate of Dubai, in collaboration with the General Headquarters of the Dubai Police. The move is part of endeavours to eradicate this outlawed activity.

Abdullah Al Mahra, Director of Franchising and Enforcement, RTA’s Public Transport Agency, said: “The illegal picking up of passengers is practiced in certain spots which are well known to those who practice this activity. Randomly it takes place on a street side, but the pickup points keep changing to avoid being raided. In fact it is difficult to quantify the exact magnitude of this phenomenon as it involves several types of vehicles such as private vehicles, rented cars, commercial transport vehicles and private company vehicles.”

As for the losses inflicted by this phenomenon on the taxi sector in Dubai, Al Mahra said: “This practice has negative financial repercussions on this vital sector in Dubai, which is considered one of the key tourist cities in the region. It distorts the profile of the RTA as a service-providing entity that seeks to deliver best-in-class services through creative techniques aligned with the world’s top practices and solutions of the industry.”