Abu Dhabi Taxis

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Taxis in Abu Dhabi

Telephone 600-535353 for the Trans AD hotline (not a toll-free number)

Taxis in Abu Dhabi are regulated by the Abu Dhabi Centre for Regulation of Transport by Hire Cars (TransAD), a government organisation established in 2006. Most taxis in Abu Dhabi come in either gold and white (older taxis), or silver (newer taxis). Taxis can be hailed on the street, or telephone one of the taxi companies to order one.

TransAD tel 600-535353 (Abu Dhabi), +971-2-4173888 (Abu Dhabi), +971-3-7620360 (Al Ain), +971-2-8945555 (Western Region).
General manager of TransAD is Abdullah Sultan Al Sabbagh.

Abu Dhabi taxi fares

Abu Dhabi taxi fares increased again in August 2010 to AED 1.00 per 750m travelled (1.33 dhs/km). Flagfall remains at AED 3.00 daytime and AED 3.60 nighttime.
Abu Dhabi taxi fares increased on 15 February 2009 from AED 2.60 to AED 3.00 at flagfall, and 65 fils / km to 1 dh / km, for the new silver taxis only.
This follows the increase in taxi fares from AED 2.00 at flagfall and 50 fils (AED 0.50) per km to AED 2.60 and 65 fils per km in early November 2007, at the same time as new taxis started to be introduced.
There are some premium taxis which have a slightly higher fare (AED 3.00 flagfall + AED 0.75 per km).

New taxis in Abu Dhabi

About 7000-8000 old bronze/yellow/gold & white taxis will be phased out from 2008 to 2010 (or 2012 - different dates seen).
Initially 300 of silver jalopies hit the roads, with another 800 by the end of 2007, and a total of 7000 by the end of 2008.
Some of the new taxis are equipped with GPS so that taxis can find passengers more easily. Or passengers can find taxis. Or something.

TransAD taxi charges in Abu Dhabi as of 15 February 2009 (other companies may be different)

Flagfall (daytime) AED 3 for new taxis, AED 2.60 for old taxis. Night time (10pm to 6am) flagfall AED 3.60 and AED 3.12 (not confirmed).
Running charges (daytime) AED 1 for new taxis, AED 0.65 for old taxis. Night time charges AED 1.20 and AED 0.78.
Waiting tariff AED 30 per hour, additional AED 2.50 for every 5 minutes after first hour.
Long distance tariff, for example Abu Dhabi to Dubai, increases from AED 1.00 to AED 1.50 after first 50 km of journey (previously was double what the meter said).
Airport surcharge nil (previously was AED 10).
Telephone bookings are charged an extra AED 5.

Taxi companies in Abu Dhabi licensed by Trans AD are:

Al Arabia Taxi, tel +971-2-5588099, website www.arabiataxi.ae or www.arabiataxi.com
Al Ghazal Transport (has taxis and limousine services), tel +971-2-4447787 (Abu Dhabi), +971-3-7516565 (Al Ain), website maybe www.alghazal.ae or www.ghazal.ae but nothing when checked August 2008.
Cars Taxi, tel +971-2-5516164, website www.carstaxi.ae
Emirates Taxi, website www.etaxiuae.com (nothing when checked August 2008), email info@etaxiuae.com
National Taxi, tel +971-2-5552212, website www.nationaltaxi.ae
Q-Link Transport, tel +971-2-4488864, website www.qlink.ae
Tawasul Transport, website www.tawasul.ae (nothing there when checked August 2008), email info@tawasul.ae.

National Transport Company (National Transportation Company) is another Abu Dhabi based transport company which is licensed to pick up passengers from Abu Dhabi Airport, but it is not listed on the Trans AD website.

London Taxis in Abu Dhabi

Jun 2008 - a report in The National had the CEO of Al Qudra's transport section, Hadi Tahboub, saying that there were 5 of the white (instead of black) cabs giving free rides to handicapped passengers at Abu Dhabi International Airport. Q-Link Transport tel +971-2-4488864.
26 Sep 2007 - Q-link Transport announced again that they would be launching the London Taxi fleet, this time in October 2007 (press release "Q-Link Transport to launch famous London Taxis in Abu Dhabi with Gulf specifications". Sometime after that date, a handful of the London taxis were launched but without much fanfare.
Oct 2006 - Iyad Al Ansari, CEO of Q-Link Transport, a subsidiary of Al Qudra Holding, told the Khaleej Times in October 2006 that they would be launching a fleet of about 150 London Taxis as luxury limousines in Abu Dhabi in January 2007. But they didn't.

Last update Saturday 07-Jun-2014

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Related websites (new window)

www.transad.ae - website for Abu Dhabi Center for Regulation of Transport by Hire Cars, complete with tiresome flash intro that you're forced to watch before getting a skip intro button.
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