Special taxi fares: Cheaper and better

Dubai: It apparently just got a little cheaper for residents with special needs to catch a taxi.

Five Dubai Taxi vans earmarked for special-needs transportation have traditionally been booked at Dh50 per hour throughout the city.

But under new changes this week, the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has changed the fees to a metering system, an RTA spokesperson confirmed.

Using the metered form of travel will be cheaper for those wanting shorter trips across Dubai because they won't have to pay the block fee of Dh50 every time they order a special needs taxi.

Rates revised

"Before it was a flat rate, but the rates have been revised to make it easier for passengers," said the spokesperson.

Shrinking demand for these taxis prompted the RTA to drop prices. "They revised the rates because there wasn't that much demand," the spokesperson said.

To book one of the RTA special needs taxis, riders now pay the same as any of the 3,500 RTA taxis - at Dh6 initial booking fee and the metered rate - to travel throughout Dubai.

Initial fee

The initial fee climbs to Dh7 in the evening and airport charges of Dh25 still apply.

Overall, there are an estimated 7,000 licensed taxi cabs in Dubai.

Abdul Aziz Malek, CEO of the Dubai Taxi Agency at RTA, could not be reached for comment.