By Shafaat Shahbandari, Staff Reporter www.gulfnews.com
Dubai: Payment of taxi fares will become hassle free in the next couple of months as the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) enables Nol card and credit card payments, Gulf News has learnt.
A senior RTA official told Gulf News that all taxis have been upgraded already and the new payment modes will be introduced by April.
“We have already upgraded taxi meters and conducted tests, which have been very successful, so we will go with the launch by beginning of quarter 2 of this year,” said Eisa Abdul Rahman Al Dossri, CEO of RTA’s Public Transport Agency (PTA).
The new payment mode will accept all Nol cards, including Silver, Gold, as well as personalised Nol cards. However, the red tickets issued for buses and metro will not be allowed on taxis.
According to Dossari, the additional payment options will help people greatly. “It will save people from the headache of keeping change as on many occasions the taxi drivers don’t have change and customers have to go out looking for change. Nol and credit card payment options will add to people’s convenience,” said Dossari.
The project is part of the recently introduced D8 system for taxis, which makes sure various functionalities could be added to taxi meters. More info
Fact Box
Minimum fare
Regular taxis within Dubai – Dh10
Regular taxis going out of Dubai – Dh20
Airport and Port Rashid – Dh20
Day time – 6am to 10pm
Starting fare:
Flagged from road – Dh3
Pre-booked taxis – Dh6
Night time – 10pm to 6am
Starting fare:
From road – Dh3.5
Pre-booked – Dh7
Meter run – Dh1.6 per kilometre
Waiting charges Dh0.50 per minute and Dh30 per hour.
Long term rental
6 hours – Dh300
12 hours – Dh500
