UAE | Traffic and Transport

More than 10,000 taxis face ban by end of 2009

Several thousands of old taxis will be banned from the UAE roads by end of 2009, as part of the new vehicle regulations to phase out old vehicles, the Ministry of Interior has said.

  • By Rayeesa Absal, Staff Reporter
  • Published: 23:27 November 27, 2008
  • Gulf News

  • Abu Dhabi will lose the maximum number of taxis from its current fleet, with 6,134 cabs on the ministry's phase-out list.
  • Image Credit: Gulf News archive

Abu Dhabi: Several thousands of old taxis will be banned from the UAE roads by end of 2009, as part of the new vehicle regulations to phase out old vehicles, the Ministry of Interior has said.

The process of decommissioning about 10,826 taxis is part of the new regulations, starting on December 1, which states that taxis older than five years will not be renewed or registered, the official told Gulf News.

The largest number of older cabs is from Abu Dhabi with 6,134 vehicles. Dubai follows with 3,676 while the other emirates have comparatively lower number of cabs that will be phased out. A total of 96 cabs will go off the roads from Sharjah, 63 from Fujairah, 487 from Umm Al Quwain, 231 from Ras Al Khaimah and 139 from Ajman.

In an interview, Dr Nasser Saif Al Mansouri, the General Manager of National Transport Authority (NTA) said phasing out the old taxis is an essential step that will come with many benefits.

"Because of the extensive use of taxis and the long distances run by them unlike private vehicles, taxis tend to run down quickly. So in order to make sure the quality and standards of such services offered we need to have new taxis as much as possible," Al Mansouri said. "Old taxis pose a potential risk to the lives of road users and passengers," he added.

Al Mansouri is optimistic about the gap that would be left behind by the phasing out of the large number of cabs from the capital at a time when people are complaining extensively about lack of availability of taxis.

"This is a free market. No sooner than there is a demand for this service, it will be met. The market should be able to respond to such demands and I believe it will," he said, adding that the NTA is coordinating with local authorities to make sure the phase-out process is smooth.

New vehicle regulations also stipulate the banning of light vehicles older than 20 years, import of cars older than five years, import of heavy vehicles older than seven years and transfer of ownership of light vehicles older than 10 years for use within the country.

According to a recent study by Ministry of Economy and Planning, UAE looses about Dh5 billion annually due to road congestions.

No longer road-fit

- 10,826 taxis older than five years will be banned soon.

- This includes 6,134 cabs from Abu Dhabi

--3676 from Dubai

--96 from Sharjah

--63 from Fujairah

--487 from Umm Al Quwain

--231 from Ras Al Khaimah

--139 from Ajman.

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