During peak rush hours, Dubai’s Road and Transport Authority (RTA) has released a list of timings when customers should avoid hailing a cab from the road and book a cab online instead.
RTA announced new peak hour timings in conjunction with the weekend change on Monday, January 31, and advised commuters to book taxis online during these hours for a more convenient journey.
When are the new peak hours for taxis?
According to RTA, the revised peak hours are as follows:
- Monday to Thursday: 8 am to 10 am and 4 pm to 8 pm.
- Friday: 8 am to 10 am and 4 pm to 12 am.
- Saturday and Sunday: 4 pm to 12 am.
What is the effect of peak hours on taxi fares?
Taxi users in Dubai may have noticed that the same journey – such as from your office to the metro station – may be charged differently at different times of the day.
The reason is that peak hour rates are in effect when taxis are most in demand. This includes morning and evening rush hours, as well as weekends.
For regular Dubai Taxis, the meter starts at Dh5 during off-peak hours. During peak hours or when booking a taxi online, it may start at Dh12.
How to book a taxi online?
For taxi users, the RTA offers various options for booking taxis in advance, so they don’t have to wait until one is available on the road. There is a toll-free number 800 88088, or you can download the Dubai Taxi Corporation’s smartphone app – ‘DTC’ – or the Careem app, which will allow you to hail a Hala taxi, a taxi service offered by Careem and the RTA.
What is the reason for the change in RTA timings?
UAE announced its transition to a four-and-half-day working week on December 7, with Friday afternoon, Saturday, and Sunday as the new weekend for all federal government departments. From January 1, 2022, federal and private entities in the UAE have been following the new weekend.
The RTA updated its operating hours for its facilities and implemented the new schedule on January 3, 2022.