Dubai: Pink taxis will be deployed at places frequently visited by women, said an official.
The taxis will soon be on Dubai's roads to provide a "women-only" taxi service.
"The taxis will have pink roofs, pink seats and interiors, and other features to give the vehicles a feminine touch. We will roll out pink taxis with at least 50 cars in a few months," said Ammar Bin Tamim, Director of the Dubai Taxi Department at the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA).
He told Gulf News that some 25 female drivers, including four UAE nationals, are currently undergoing training as taxi drivers.
Bin Tamim said the taxis would be deployed at places such as shopping malls and Al Wasl Hospital the biggest maternity hospital in Dubai.
He said the taxis would be easily identifiable on roads and would only stop for female passengers. Taxis with female drivers currently only operate at Dubai International Airport to ferry female passengers and families.
"There are about 30 female drivers, including 10 nationals, working for the airport taxi service," said Bin Tamim.
He said the female taxi service had proved very successful at the airport as single female passengers felt more comfortable travelling in these taxis.
The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has spent Dh25 million to improve its system of taxi booking and distribution over the phone and internet.
Currently some 3,000 taxis in the department are connected to the new satellite monitoring system and offer a booking facility over the phone.
Other taxi companies, which run around 3,000 taxis altogether, will soon be linked to the system to offer a booking facility over the phone.
"With the installation of the new monitoring system, we have successfully managed to reduce the 'arrival time' of a booked taxi from 15 to 12 minutes," said Bin Tamim.
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.
Reservations over the phone increased despite the fact the base fare for taxis booked by phone was increased in June from Dh4 to Dh6 during the day and from Dh4.50 to Dh7 at night.
Bin Tamim said Al Sufooh, which houses residential areas such as Emirates Hills and Marina Towers, topped the list of reservations with 26,861.
It was followed by Al Garhoud with 15,337 reservations and Mirdif with 10,293 reservations.
Your comments
It's a good decision. After all women passengers will be able to travel at night without feeling frightened.
Ameena
Sharjah,UAE
To everyone rambling on about democracy and equality: don't confuse things! This is about SAFETY.
Excellent idea and thanks to the authorities!
Brian
Dubai,UAE
It's a very good decision to introduce taxis for ladies. As a muslim family, my wife, mother and sister will feel comfortable and safe traveling with lady drivers. Once again thanks RTA.
Abul
Rak,UAE
Dubai was always perfect and safe with male taxis. RTA is always doing well to improve the transport system. I guess RTA will do more improvments.
Khalid
Shengen,China
Is this really the issue? If women feel threatened by male taxi drivers, is not the answer to deal with that before getting more taxes for women? We always have our priorities wrong!
Mike
Dubai,UAE
In the Uk a similar service already exists with Renault Kangoo, and all the drivers are woman.
Jorge
Pan de Azucar,Uruguay
What a great idea. This shows how Dubai has evolved over the years, by taking the feelings of woman into consideration.
Khalfan
Dubai,UAE
This is a great initiative and I hope similiar reforms are applied to other facilities in Dubai and elsewhere.
Hodan
Sharjah,UAE
It's a very gud idea and I think whoever thought of it should be rewarded.
Benish
Dubai,UAE
It's really good to have pink taxis just for ladies. This really gives comfort to ladies aswell as security in travelling at night. Thanks to Ammar for bringing such a wonderful idea into existance.
Moid
manama,bahrain
One of the most brillian ideas ever!Congratulations RTA and just keep up the good work!
Bea
Dubai,UAE
I have been in the UAE for the last three years. I think it is better to have taxis for females in this condition.
Manoj
Dubai,UAE
I feel it will be safe. All women will feel comfortable. Great work. We hope the pink taxis will come to Abu Dhabi soon.
Zartaj
Abu Dhabi,UAE
It's a superb idea. It will really help ladies to travel securely in the UAE. These days taxis are becoming insecure vehicles for women. Pink taxis will make ladies feel proud.
I appreciate RTA for this superb idea. Keep it up.
Emran
Abu Dhabi,UAE
It's a fabulous idea. Hats off to the originator of this concept as well as to the Dubai Transp. authorities for implementing this idea.
Marina
Dubai,UAE
An extremely wonderful Idea. Good job RTA! I can't wait to have my first pinky pink ride.
Sibi Scaria
Al-Rashidya,Dubai
I feel very lucky to be a resident of Dubai who is going to use this Pink Taxi. I am eagerly waiting for its arrival on the Dubai Roads.
Maheshwari
Dubai,UAE
Fabulous! As a woman, I prefer to ride with someone I can give a 100% trust. Women are the best! Safe and Effective Drivers! Congrats!
Lalaine
Dubai,UAE
It is a good idea to implement pink taxis exclusively for ladies only. To help us be safe and be more convenient to our trip. Keep up the work!
Dianne
Aubi Dhabi,UAE
What a ridiculous idea! In this day and age we should be more concentrated on establishing a more democratic society, where ALL people should be equal. The fact that this is being implemented means that we are perpertrating an unequal society and we still have a very long way to go before reaching one.
Charles
Dubai,UAE
It's highly appreciated and warmly welcomed.
Ansari
Sharjah,UAE
This is a fantastic idea. At last some of us do not have to depend on our husbands anymore.
I just hope they are accessible everywhere.
Rima
Dubai,UAE
Your innovative ideas are just outstanding and salutary. This is the kind of initiative all women around here have been waiting for, for ages. Most women are tired of being suspected of behaving badly outdoors, tired of being stared at wherever they wander about, especially if they are alone. A pink taxi sounds like a lovely idea, even though it could be regarded by some Westeners as a typical and cynical kind of "sexist discrimination". This initiative proves, anyway, that laws and regulations are closely related to mentalities and social behaviours and patterns. In other terms, if the women were differently respected or considered or looked at, this whole story wouldn't be written! Anyway, keep up the good work. Bravo Dubai!
Bassima
Dubai,UAE
I have been in Dubai for the last 6 years and it is very nice to hear that we are getting taxis for women driven by women drivers. Fantastic effort. I really salute RTA for this wonderful effort.
Ram
Dubai,UAE
It is a good idea, I wil feel more comfortable when my wife needs to take a cab. I think it is the kind of initiative that the Arab world could bring to the western world.
As for the fare, it shouldn't be lower since this would mean that the female drivers will get less money. On the contrary it should be higher, first to compensate a female for sacrificing family life and second to encourage other female drivers.
Farid
Dubai,UAE
It's a wonderful idea. Women will feel safer and will be more comfortable.
I really appreciate them for this impresive idea. At the same time I hope that the cost will be similar to normal taxis.
Mohammed
Dubai,UAE
This is great. I love this as I frequently ride a cab alone. Keet it up RTA.
Alys
Dubai,UAE
Really Mr Amar Bin Tamim is a brilliant thinker and strategist in developing Dubai bussines and preserving our Islamic and Arab traditions.well done Mr Amar
Hassene
Chlelf,Algeria
A very interesting plan indeed! Thanks for your concern for women. I welcome the change whole heartedly and am sure it will help a lot of female travelers particularly in the evening/night hours. Thanks to the officials.
Kauser
Dubai,UAE
Wow this is really great. I can't wait for my first ride in a pink taxi. Dubai Transport is really showing that they care for women's safety. Thanks a lot. We salute you!
Rose
Dubai,UAE
I was amazed by this idea. I salute RTA for doing a good job.
Rox
Dubai,UAE
I am very glad to know about this pink taxi for ladies. This is a great decision and will help women to go out without any hesitation.
Shakil
Dubai,UAE
I think it is a great idea. Women will feel more secure to travel from place to place if the taxi is driven by another woman. Good job. Nice idea.
Tasneem
Dubai,UAE
Women will feel more comfortable and safer when traveling. Great idea!
Girlie
Dubai,UAE
It is a great idea to protect women who work during late hours.
Sesha
Sharjah,UAE
This is really great and should be adopted in other emirates also. We can see, like Dubai, so many working ladies are also in Sharjah and Ajman and this will be a great relief for single female passengers staying in northern emirates.
Anil
Sharjah,UAE
This is really good! Some male drivers can be rude which sometimes makes me scared or frightened.
Trisha
Dubai,UAE
It is a brilliant idea. But if you would keep the fare lower than the normal Dubai taxis it would be worth boarding because usually woman's income happens to be less than that of men.
Mayuri
Dubai,UAE
This is really a good sign and will make women more comfortable to travel with lady driver. The monitoring system will also provide comfort to commuters. A good inititative from RTA.
Asif
Dubai,UAE
We appreciate your efforts and hard work in improving services and for being so considerate about women. The concept of having the pink taxis only for ladies is very good. But at the same time please don't keep increasing the rates as the cost of living in Dubai is increasing day by day. Middle class people are finding it difficult to afford a living in Dubai with their families. The fuel charges and rents etc have already increased so much. We really appreciate the efforts and hard work by the Dubai Transport Division in providing a better service. Keep up the good work! Keep the rates down!
Suresh
Dubai,UAE
It is a really very good idea.
Anuradha
Dubai,India
Really Mr. Tamim is doing good job. Keep it up.
Mohammed
Dubai,UAE
Innovative ideas by the Department of Public Transport. Keep it up!
Sreenivasan
Dubai,UAE
This will be the promising step to make Dubai a safer and more protected place for females. We welcome the decision.
Purshotam
Dubai,India
This is a Wonderful effort done by Dubai officials.
Nomaan
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Just brilliant! RTA is a real hero in town, who is working with it's whole heart to improve the traffic conditions in the city. I hope that the rest of the emirates in the country can follow RTA's brilliant moves regarding traffic conditions.
Sheharyaar
Dubai,UAE
This is a good idea for ladies to drive. Sometimes when we ladies travel alone, we get scared to travel by taxi on out own. Especially on long distance journeys. I feel this is a good idea.
Maria
Dubai,UAE
Well done. It's a good concept and will really help females. It's safe and secure travelling for women and will be easier for the husband to allow his family to travel in these kinds of taxis.
Syed
Sharjah,UAE
It is a good move for the conveneince of ladies who have to travel alone.
Meena
Dubai,UAE
Good job.
Zainab
Sharjah,UAE
It's highly appreciated. Thanks for those great people who started thinking about this. Some male drivers are really a nuisance. They want to know lots of things, but in the morning rush hour we don't have any other option than to get out and take another one.
Step by step you have to introduce women drivers through out the country.
Sherbina
Deira,UAE
I have been in Dubai for the last 25 years. It is very good that we are getting taxis for women for the first time in Dubai. Women will feel happier in a female taxi.
Mansoor
Dubai,UAE
