Dubai’s taxi sector sees surge in journeys, drivers in first half of 2024

Dubai’s taxi sector has experienced notable growth in the first half of 2024, with a surge in both journeys and drivers compared to the same period last year.

In the first half of 2024, the number of taxi journeys reached 55.7 million, up from 55.3 million in the first half of 2023. Passenger numbers also saw an increase, climbing from 96.2 million to 96.9 million. The number of drivers has also grown significantly from 26,000 to 30,000, reflecting the sector's response to rising demand.

Additionally, the total number of taxis in operation increased to 12,778, an addition of 644 vehicles from the previous year.

Commenting on the growth, Adel Shakri, Director of Planning and Business Development at the Public Transport Agency of the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) said, “The transportation industry has consistently grown over the last five years. This rise in the number of journeys, drivers, and vehicles directly responds to the increasing demand for the service, ensuring that customers' needs are met.” [Can make this a pull quote]

The sector's record growth is partly attributed to the success of the e-hail service, Hala Taxi. E-bookings accounted for 40% of total taxi journeys in Dubai during the first half of this year, marking a 5% increase from the previous year.

Additionally, 76% of Hala journeys had an average vehicle arrival time of less than 3.5 minutes, up from 73% in the same period last year. This reflects continued improvements in efficiency and response speed.