Dubai’s taxi sector experienced a significant rise in trips during the first half of 2024, the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) announced on Wednesday.
According to a Khaleej Times report, the number of journeys increased to 55.7 million from January to June 2024, compared to 55.3 million in the same period last year. Passenger numbers also grew, reaching 96.9 million, up from 96.2 million in 2023.
The sector saw a rise in taxi drivers, increasing from 26,000 to 30,000, and the total number of taxis in operation reached 12,778, up by 644 from the same period last year.
Adel Shakri, director of Planning and Business Development at RTA’s Public Transport Agency, highlighted the impact of the Hala Taxi e-hail service on this growth. “E-bookings accounted for 40 percent of the total number of taxi journeys in Dubai during the first half of this year, a five percent increase compared to the same period in 2023,” he noted. Shakri also mentioned that 76 percent of Hala journeys had an average vehicle arrival time of less than 3.5 minutes, surpassing the 73 percent rate from last year, indicating improved efficiency and responsiveness to customer needs.