Abu Dhabi: Taxi drivers in Abu Dhabi have voiced their frustrations over illegal taxi drivers operating in the capital, telling Gulf News that the unlicensed competition they are facing is costing them money.
In late May, Mohammad Al Qemzi, general manager of the Centre for Regulation of Hire Cars (TransAD), told Gulf News that strict new measures were being put in place to curb illegal passenger transportation. Under the new framework, illegal taxi drivers who are caught could face a fine of up to Dh30,000 and deportation.
For taxi drivers like Dawood Islam, the new laws against illegal taxi services cannot come fast enough.
“These illegal taxi drivers are very bad, they are taking my customers away and, as a result, this means that I end up losing money. Every month, like all other taxi drivers, I have a revenue target I have to reach, and so it doesn’t help when there are these unlicensed drivers out there taking potential passengers away,” he said.
“What they are doing is basically stealing from us. They pick up passengers and offer them cheaper fares to lure them, if the taxi fare is Dh10, they tell the passenger they will only charge them Dh5 to go to the same place,” he added.
Islam also said that the number of illegally operated taxis was on the rise.
“I see them nearly every day. As soon as I spot them, I note down their number plate and report them to TransAD. The details will then be forwarded to the police authorities who will investigate the matter.
“The illegal taxi drivers go to areas that have a high number of passengers they can pick up. So, for example, you will find them near shopping malls, the bus station, and even near some hospitals,” he added.
Mohammad Nissar, another taxi driver working in Abu Dhabi, shared many of Islam’s feelings about unlicensed taxi drivers.
“It is totally unfair. They are not licensed to operate and they are not regulated, but they are making money from their illegal practice and so I hope an end is put to this,” he said.
“At the end of the day I am the licensed taxi driver, this is my job, and I have been entrusted with this task, so how is it possible for these illegal drivers to come along and say they are taxi drivers?” he added.
Nissar also spoke of far-reaching consequences, including passenger safety issues.
“These illegal taxi drivers do not operate under licensed companies, so as a passenger you don’t really know who you are driving with, they can be somebody that is dangerous, and on top of that if you want to make a complaint afterwards there is nobody you can really complain to,” he said.
“I am losing money because of these illegal taxi drivers, but this also has a negative affect on the economy because these unlicensed drivers pocket all the money they make instead of having to pay some of their monthly revenues to TransAD like licensed taxi drivers,” he added.
