More Hala Taxis in Dubai make life easier for customers

Hala Taxis can be hired only through bookings made at the booking and dispatch centre of the Roads and Transport Agency.

To meet the growing demand for taxis, the Dubai Taxi Corporation (DTC) has augmented its fleet by putting on road 295 Hala Taxis since May 18.

Ahmed Khalfan Al Suwaidi inspecting a Hala Taxi at the RTA office in Dubai on Wednesday. — Supplied photo

This is also expected to reduce the waiting time for customers.

The Hala Taxis, standing out in their black and gray colours, do not pick up passengers from the streets. They can be hired only through bookings made at the booking and dispatch centre of the Roads and Transport Agency (RTA). Now the fleet boasts over 4,000 taxicabs operating round the clock, including on public holidays and Eid.

Ahmed Khalfan Al Suwaidi, CEO of DTC, said the centre this year received 383,947 booking requests, a quantum leap from the 107,621 in 2013. “Now, our taxi fleet constitutes 48 per cent of the total market share in Dubai,” he said.

Hala Taxis can be booked by calling up 04-2080-808. They follow the same fare structure as other taxis and ply in all parts of Dubai. 
Al Suwaidi said complaints regarding difficulties in getting taxis have been reduced from 1,357 in 2013 to 518, indicating a 61.98 per cent improvement.

Hala Taxi drivers, who work a 12-hour shift, will change shift-end timings two hours before rush hours — such as 11 am and 11 pm.

For Ramadan, the shifts will change at 3pm or 4pm to cope with the shorter work hours and the rush at Iftar time.

During Ramadan, the pick-up timings are 8am-10am, 5pm-8pm and 8pm to midnight.

lily@khaleejtimes.com