DUBAI: Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has introduced a new dynamic fare structure for taxis booked through its partner smart apps, which include platforms like Careem (Hala), S’hail, Bolt, Zed, and the DTC Smart App. The update, announced on Wednesday, revises how app-based rides are priced by linking booking fees directly to demand during specific times of the day.
The RTA clarified that the change does not affect passengers who hail taxis directly from the street; those standard fares remain unchanged. However, for users booking through apps, both the minimum fare and booking fees have been revised to establish a flexible, demand-driven system.
How the New Pricing System Works
Under the new model, app-based bookings transition from fixed booking fees to time-specific pricing:
Minimum Fare: The minimum fare for app rides has increased to Dh13, up from the previous Dh12.
Booking Fees: The previous flat fees of Dh10 and Dh12 have been discontinued.
Booking fees now start at Dh4.00 during off-peak hours.
Fees rise to Dh7.50 during peak hours, reflecting higher demand.
Base Fare (Flag-fall): The core base fare remains consistent with RTA’s standard rates: Dh5.00 during peak hours and Dh5.50 at night.
With input from GN
For more details: Navamalayalam.com
