Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has signed a cooperation agreement with Uber Technologies, the international pioneer in the technology of linking riders with drivers, to provide online taxi and limo booking services in Dubai, UAE.

Under the agreement, Uber will offer taxis and luxurious transport services (limousines) via online and smart apps channels. The service will be run according to the laws governing the operation of taxis and limousines in Dubai emirate.

Uber will deploy 14,000 vehicles including 9,841 taxis and 4,700 limousines in the city.

The agreement is about fulfilling the needs of customers and provide them with transportation solutions at a reasonable rate in a way that contributes to reduce the number of vehicles on roads, a statement said.

Mattar Al Tayer, director-general and chairman of the board of executive directors of RTA, and Anthony Khoury, regional manager of Uber in the Middle East, signed the agreement.

Attendees at the signing ceremony were Mohammed Obaid Al Mulla, board member cum chair of the Dubai Taxi Corporation Council; Abdullah Yousef Al Ali, CEO of Public Transport Agency; Nasser Hamad BuShehab, CEO of Strategy and Corporate Services Sector and Chair of the Higher Committee of Follow-up and Regulation of Vehicles Booking via Call or Electronic Media; Adel Shakri, director of Transport Systems; and Christopher Frye, general manager, Uber in the UAE.

“This initiative signals the keenness of RTA to implement the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai to rank Dubai as the smartest city world-wide since smart mobility is one of the key elements of smart cities. The agreement with Uber offers a new service for residents and visitors who wish to move around Dubai by taxis and limousines. This contributes to realising people’s happiness, providing quality services for tourists and enhancing customers’ experience. RTA, in cooperation with Uber is considering the deployment of new mobility options to cater to the needs of customers in Dubai emirate and reduce vehicles on the roads,” said Al Tayer.

“This agreement supports the Integrated Mobility Platform Project in Dubai Project, which is currently being implemented by RTA. The platform enables customers to access all means of transport in Dubai through a single window (Smart App), where RTA’s transit services (metro, tram, buses, marine transport, and taxis) are integrated with other transport means on offer by the other parties in Dubai such as limousine companies, Palm Monorail, and Dubai Trolley,” elaborated Al Tayer.

He underlined RTA’s keenness to forge partnership with the private sector, invite all online booking companies to realise the objective of offering excellent smart services to customers.

Khoury said: "We are committed to working with RTA on launching a more accessible Uber service for riders, and further adapting our innovative solutions to Dubai.”

“The partnership with RTA is a giant step for Uber and we will do our best to support RTA’s efforts to find easy mobility solutions for customers,” added Khoury. - TradeArabia News Service