UAE | Traffic and Transport

'I had to wait an hour for a taxi to arrive'

The Dubai Taxi Department claims the arrival time of a taxi booked over the phone has been reduced from 15 to 12 minutes, but some passengers say they still have to wait for more than an hour.

  • By Ashfaq Ahmed, Staff Reporter
  • Published: 00:00 August 24, 2006
  • Gulf News

  • Image Credit:
  • A couple hop into a taxi at the Global Village (for illustrative purposes only).

Dubai: The Dubai Taxi Department claims the arrival time of a taxi booked over the phone has been reduced from 15 to 12 minutes, but some passengers say they still have to wait for more than an hour.

A number of passengers have complained that taxis booked over the phone do not arrive within the 12- or 15-minute specified time period.

"I had to wait yesterday morning for at least 60 minutes for the taxi which I booked at 7.45am and I was late for work," said Louise Hanlon, an Australian living in Jumeirah.

She said that she was told the taxi was on its way whenever she called the company.

"The company promised to call me back but no one bothered, so I requested the number of the driver and called him directly. When he arrived, he said that he had only been given the message five minutes previously," she said.

Hanlon said that it seemed the main problem was in communicating the messages to the drivers, which is causing major delays in getting taxis.

Another passenger on Al Wasl Road said that she called up a taxi at 9am yesterday but it arrived 75 minutes later.

"Much to my frustration, the taxi driver said that he had received the message just five minutes before he reached my house," she said.

She said that she orders a cab every day and it always takes 20 to 25 minutes and never 12 minutes as recently claimed by the taxi company.

When contacted, an RTA official was unavailable for comment.

However, earlier this month the RTA said taxis would reach passengers' doorsteps within 12 minutes of calling over the phone.

The Reservation and Distribution Department of the Public Transport Corporation received 198,485 telephone calls during July, and the total number of taxi reservations made was 112,996.

5 million km increase

The Dubai Taxi Department in the Public Transport Agency of the RTA said the total kilometres covered by taxis working on commission system during July reached 35.11 million km, an increase of five million kilometres over the same month last year.

Ammar Bin Tamim, Director of the Dubai Taxi Department, said: "The average daily income for each taxi has reached Dh389 compared to Dh354 in July 2005."

Your comments


The number of taxis should be increased. Dubai is getting bigger and needs more taxis, hospitals, school, universities, clinics and polite taxi drivers. Just go to Jamal Abdul Naser Sqaure, you can't get a taxi within an hour. Nobody stops for you, unless you are a beautiful girl or woman.
Mars
Dubai,UAE

Everyday I used to call the Dubai transport taxi in the morning to go to my office. Most of the time they did not dispatch one within 12 mins. Sometimes it's more than 25 mins and sometimes they won't even come at all. They should try to dispatch within 10 mins then it's worth charging with the starting meter 6 Dirhams. Otherwise they should charge with the normal starting meter rate.
Murlon
Dubai,UAE

Yes, it is absolutely true. If you request a taxi, you need to make several follow up calls before the taxi finally arrives. Aside from reservation problems, several taxis in malls are choosing passengers with further destinations and less shopping items. Sometimes, if you signal for an empty taxi, the driver literally just looks at you and will completely ignore you.
Ella
Dubai,UAE

This is very bad and will cause serious damage to RTA's reputation as they claim that Taxis will reach the passenger's doorstep within 12 minutes. REAL SHAME.
Ram
Dubai,UAE

They claim 12 mins, even the earlier time limit of 15 mins was never met. I live in the Gardens at Jebel Ali and had to wait for 45 mins with my toddler in the heat and finally walked over to a main road and hailed a passing taxi. I called to cancel the taxi after I got one and they still said it's on the way and will be with you in five mins. I heard that three times during my 45 mins wait.
Sunita
Dubai,UAE

I sympathise with everyone - only six months ago it was possible to walk out of my apartment building in Oud Metha and get a cab within 2 minutes. Now it takes on average of 20-30 minutes.
James
Dubai,UAE

Read Mr. Aurn's comments but one can not generalize his statement, if a lady with an infant at home calls a taxi for a ride to clinic for instance, in this summer season is it practical to walk outside and gain your health? One should think about everyone in the community and not just for particular people.
Fasahat
Dubai,UAE

We get taxis in Abu Dhabi within a minute. But in Dubai and Sharjah they always come too late.
Omar
Abu Dhabi,UAE

Don't wait at your door step for a taxi. Just walk to the main road and you will get a cab instantly. And by doing this you have two benefits "gain on your health and save on your pocket". Isn't that a good idea.
Arun
Dubai,UAE

It is the same with Abu Dhabi taxis.
Albert
Abu Dhabi,UAE

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