Dubai Taxi Corporation fleet to grow by 2,000 under 5-year RTA plan

Dubai Taxi Corporation’s (DTC) fleet is set for a 40% expansion by 2021 after the emirate’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) approved a five-year plan.

The Dubai Taxi Corporation Projects & Investment Initiatives 2016-2021 sets out an aim to increase the number of DTC cabs from 5,000 in 2015 to 7,000 by 2021.

Mattar Al Tayer, director-general and chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the authority, told the UAE news agency WAM that the plan also covers other types of vehicles.

“The number of limousines is set to leapfrog by as much as 340% from 113 vehicles in 2015 to 500 vehicles by 2021. The larger number of taxicabs is required to cater for the growing needs of customers comprising residents and visitors, as well as the requirements of hosting the Expo 2020 in Dubai,” Al Tayer said.

“The plan covers converting 50% of taxis into hybrid vehicles by 2021 as part of a master plan to curb carbon emissions in the taxi sector by 2%, as stipulated by the Dubai Supreme Council of Energy and Green Economy transition. This step is prompted by the deregulation of fuel prices, and the reduced lifespan of hybrid vehicles compared with conventional vehicles. Thus, the number of hybrid vehicles at the disposal of the DTC would soar from 145 in 2015 to 2,280 vehicles in 2021,” Al Tayer said.

He added that the RTA was also determined to overhaul the school transport sector with a view to offering safe and smooth mobility for all students, and delivering premium transit services for them in a safe environment. The number of school buses in operation is also set to rise from 117 in 2015 to more than 650 buses by 2021, an increase of more than 450%, Al Tayer revealed.

“Our intention is also to encourage parents to have their wards transported by school buses rather than private vehicles, support the UAE education strategy 2020, improve the calibre of school transport service in Dubai, and strike a balance between supply and demand in the sector,” Al Tayer told WAM.

“The DTC’s 5-year plan includes a new bundle of programmes and initiatives to improve the school transport services that it runs, by supplying the fleet with new eco-friendly buses fitted with sophisticated technologies corresponding to the smart government initiative, and cutting-edge means of safety and security,” he added.