Taxis linked to booking, mapping systems in Dubai

Source: RTA. Cabs in Dubai are now linked to Dubai city via Makani.

The Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA)’s Public Transport Agency has completed linking 4,500 taxis from franchise companies operating under the RTA with the Dubai Municipality's Makani System. The system uses unique coordinates, or Makani numbers, to locate buildings.

The move is part of efforts to embody RTA’s initiatives to support the government of Dubai in the implementation of its directives to transform Dubai to the world’s smartest city, which deliver services to the public round-the-clock. This initiative also contributes to achieving one of RTA’s goals, Happiness for People.

Adel Shakri, Director of Transportation Systems, RTA’s Public Transport Agency, said: “Thanks to the sharp accuracy and the easy use of the Makani System as well as its 100% coverage of (the) Dubai Emirate, the system has played a vital role in executing booking and despatch orders by cab drivers. It has made it easy for clients to reach to their intended destinations in Dubai, thanks to its highly accurate positioning feature using interactive e-maps."

Benefits of the new arrangement include being able to make a taxi booking with a Makani number through a call to the Booking & Dispatch Center. The Booking & Dispatch Center can now communicate between the customer and the taxi, receiving booking requests and forwarding them to taxi drivers.

“This initiative brings back multiple benefits to RTA’s Booking & Dispatch System. It facilitates the dispatch of taxicabs to clients using Makani number, and eases the booking process for customers by just citing Makani number. It also reduces the number of complaints related to taxis and cab drivers such as the late arrival, and the poor knowledge of Dubai geographical zones on the part of drivers,” Shakri noted.

“The coverage of (the) Makani System of Dubai Municipality spans the entire Emirate of Dubai. About 137,000 addresses have been registered in the Booking & Dispatch System of taxis and 4,500 taxi cabs have been linked to the system. A number of employees of (the) Public Transport Agency have been trained on the interface of (the) Makani System with the smart taxi meter. They are being groomed to give further training and education to taxi drivers in Dubai Emirate.”

On 19 December, the RTA announced that the Dubai Taxi Corporation (DTC) had signed an electronic partnership agreement with the Cartrawler Company for transporting passengers. Ireland-based Cartrawler is a specialist in passenger transport, serving more than 8 million clients in 147 countries.

The move is part of DTC’s plan to increase the productivity and expand the commercial reach of Dubai Taxi services worldwide. It will also contribute to realising RTA’s strategic goal Smooth Transport for All.

Dr Yousef Mohammed Al Ali, CEO of Dubai Taxi Corporation, said, “This agreement enables DTC to receive overseas bookings through the smart system of Cartrawler. Prepaid bookings can be made through the system of the company, which will be linked with the booking system of the DTC.

“The main objective of the agreement is to realise mutual benefits through charting out a model of global partnership to enhance the transit means and raise the global profile of DTC in serving a broad spectrum of visitors heading to Dubai. This project is part of a series of projects in support of the electronic and smart transformation at RTA with a view to generating added happiness to clients and residents of Dubai."