Standing by the side of the road trying to find an unengaged taxi and then trying to get it to stop and most importantly getting it to take you where you want to go used to be difficult. However this way of taking a cab is almost history now thanks to various convenient taxi apps that are now available. Things are about to get even easier now in Dubai, thanks to a strategic partnership between the Dubai RTA and Careem which unveiled the Hala brand recently.
It is the endeavour of the authorities to make Dubai not only a smart city but to make it the smartest city in the world. In keeping with this overall aim, the authorities are trying to make the public transport system more convenient, faster and more accessible. The idea is to reduce reliance on private vehicles to reduce congestion and pollution on the roads.
In recent times, the government has put into place several measures that will help to improve and enhance the shared mobility system in the city. More buses, increased metro routes, more taxis and better infrastructure have made it more convenient for more people to use public transport in Dubai.
The Dubai RTA (road transport authority) has tied up with the Careem technology in a joint venture. This will offer people the use of an app that will make it easier and simpler to hail a cab. This will also make the process more reliable and transparent so that users face fewer problems.
This is the first partnership of its kind between a private company and a public transport authority that is aimed at improving the public transport network. The test phase of the app in May 2019 garnered positive responses and an overall four-star rating from users.
The Hala e-hailing taxi booking app will launch in September of this year and will increase efficiency while lowering the wait-time between ordering and arrival of a cab for customers. This will also help the RTA achieve first and last-mile solutions for users of other modes of public transport to make commuting in Dubai easy and seamless. Customers will be able to view the route, see the info about the car and its driver, pay digitally and even share tips with others via the app. Fare estimation, credit card integration, proximity matching and updates about traffic situations are other app features.
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