“Electronic reservation” enhances sustainability and smooth traffic flow in Dubai

The shift in implementing the strategy of shifting towards electronic booking of taxis contributed to enhancing sustainability and the flow of traffic in the Emirate of Dubai, thanks to motivating taxi drivers to use electronic booking technologies, which had a positive and clear impact on reducing the process of taxis roaming on the roads and streets of the emirate, given the busyness of most of them. These vehicles fulfill pre-booked requests through smart applications.

At the same time, this sector witnessed significant development during the past year (2024) thanks to the remarkable performance of this sector and the noticeable improvement in its services due to the Roads and Transport Authority’s keenness to implement the strategy of expanding and enhancing the shift towards electronic reservations.

Reducing traffic congestion
In detail, Adel Shakri, Director of the Planning and Business Development Department at the Public Transport Agency at the Roads and Transport Authority, said: “The Authority is constantly keen, through all its institutions and sectors, to make the utmost efforts to develop plans to reduce traffic congestion, which the emirate is witnessing thanks to the progress and economic and population growth in the city. The Authority has achieved important achievements as part of its ongoing efforts to transform the taxi sector in Dubai to electronic booking, as a series of strategic initiatives in the last two years have improved and enhanced the flow of movement. traffic, service efficiency and increasing customer satisfaction.”

Shakri confirmed that the taxi sector in the Emirate of Dubai witnessed an increase in the growth rate of the market share of electronic booking trips by 16% during the year 2024 compared to 2023, in addition to an increase in the market share of (Hala) during peak hours from 42% in 2023 to 50% in the year. 2024, which confirms the increasing preference of taxi drivers in the emirate for electronic booking over booking vehicles from the road, and reducing the amount of traffic equivalent to 7,600 regular vehicles daily from the road, by adding taxi vehicles designated for the electronic booking service during peak hours, which encouraged passengers to switch to electronic booking of taxis in a way that is consistent with and meeting their needs in this field. The authority also raised the main performance indicators for the availability of vehicles. Fare during peak times to enhance service delivery and expand its scope.

Shakri added: “The level of satisfaction of both customers and taxi drivers has increased significantly, as the arrival time for more than 74% of trips carried out via electronic booking has reached less than 3.5 minutes, in addition to increasing driver satisfaction thanks to reducing driving time by 50 minutes per day, and reducing Commuting distance increased by 4% in 2024.

Reducing carbon dioxide emissions
From an environmental standpoint, the strategy of shifting towards electronic booking services for taxis has contributed significantly to reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 20,000 tons during the year 2024 by reducing the average wasted driving of a driver without a passenger by 3 kilometers for each trip via electronic booking compared to vehicle trips. Regular fare, equivalent to saving 5 minutes of wasted driving.

These positive results confirm the success of the Roads and Transport Authority’s strategic initiatives to modernize and simplify taxi services in Dubai, enhance sustainability and quality of service, and make them accessible to the public from various segments of society, including residents, visitors, and tourists coming to the emirate from various countries of the world.