Dubai Taxi to dominate 72% of ride-hailing market through Bolt expansion

Dubai: Fresh after announcing its third quarter 2025 results, Dubai Taxi Company revealed it is rapidly consolidating its grip on the emirate's ride-hailing sector. DTC is targeting a commanding 72 per cent market share of taxi-based e-hailing services through its aggressive partnership with Bolt, CEO Mansoor Rahma Alfalasi has revealed.

The strategic push comes as the company reported a stellar third quarter, with net profit surging 28 per cent to Dh76.4 million, driven by fleet expansion, tourism growth, and the successful rollout of its Bolt operations.

Bolt partnership drives market dominance

Alfalasi told Gulf News that Dubai Taxi's year-old partnership with Bolt has already generated nearly 4 million trips and is now processing over 200,000 trips weekly for the first time.

"We see Bolt for us as a long-term story," Alfalasi said. "We are talking about market share from the taxi sector of about 72 per cent, and looking forward to reach 100 per cent in the coming few months by partnering and onboarding other operators on Bolt itself."

The company recently partnered with Kabi, Dubai's second-largest fleet operator, to onboard more than 3,000 additional vehicles onto the platform. This move significantly expands Dubai Taxi's presence beyond its own 6,215 operational taxis.

Expansion beyond Dubai

Dubai Taxi is preparing to launch Bolt services in Abu Dhabi imminently, offering both limousine and taxi options. "Very soon, we're going to tap into a new city, which is Abu Dhabi," Alfalasi confirmed, adding that further city expansions are planned.

The company began injecting its own taxis onto the Bolt platform in May, complementing the third-party vehicles already operating through the service.

Strong quarterly performance

The company completed 13.1 million trips across its taxi and limousine segments during the quarter, a 7 per cent increase driven by fleet additions and stronger visitor arrivals.

"Think from the sustainable demand here in the city, plus also the expansion when it comes to our fleet, also the number of trips that we built up compared to last year, and also the strategic partnership that we did with different parties," Alfalasi said.

"So all of these helped us create these good results," he said.

Fleet expansion accelerates

Dubai Taxi's total operational fleet now stands at 10,500 vehicles, marking a 19 per cent year-on-year increase. The operational taxi fleet includes 401 fully electric vehicles, reflecting progress towards sustainability goals.

The CEO said the company plans to participate "very aggressively" in an auction for approximately 600 new taxi plates expected at the beginning of next year from the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA).

Delivery fleet nearing 3,000 bikes

Beyond taxis, Dubai Taxi is rapidly scaling its e-commerce delivery operations, with its motorcycle fleet expected to reach 3,000 bikes by year-end, up from around 2,600 currently.

"The e-commerce business is really booming in Dubai," Alfalasi noted, highlighting partnerships with major delivery platforms including Careem, Smiles, Noon, Talabat, Kitopi, and Deliveroo.

The Bolt app has now surpassed 600,000 downloads, providing another avenue for customer acquisition.

Tourism boom fuels optimism

Looking ahead to the fourth quarter, traditionally the strongest period for Dubai's tourism-dependent businesses, Alfalasi expressed confidence that visitor growth would drive further gains.

"Obviously, we also benefit from the demand on this side, from the people who are coming to Dubai, especially with Bolt, like the majority of people who are in the majority of cities that Bolt operates in consider as our frequent visitors to Dubai," he said.

The company employs approximately 17,000 taxi drivers and maintains a ratio of 2.5 drivers per vehicle to ensure continuous operations across two shifts whilst accounting for turnover and leave.

Strategic partnerships continue

Dubai Taxi continues to target high-traffic locations for exclusive partnerships. Recent and upcoming agreements include contracts with Coca-Cola Arena and the Union train network launching soon in Dubai, joining existing partnerships with Dubai Airports, Dubai Shopping Mall, and Atlantis hotels.

"On a yearly basis, we look into the biggest locations, because we do have a lot of small locations, but we are focusing on the big chunk and the big volume," Alfalasi explained.

The CEO hinted at potential new mobility solutions on the horizon, including subscription models and shared ride options, though he stressed any new ventures must generate sufficient volume to justify investment.

"Very soon you might see something very positive news from DTC on this regard," he said.

With response times already averaging three to four minutes for app bookings and under 10 minutes at airport queues despite long lines, Dubai Taxi is leveraging its scale, technology investments, and strategic partnerships to cement its position as the dominant player in Dubai's rapidly evolving mobility landscape.