Irish Taxi Forum

Public Area => Taxi Talk => Topic started by: Rat Catcher on August 31, 2019, 10:25:04 am

Title: How Do They Do It?
Post by: Rat Catcher on August 31, 2019, 10:25:04 am
Took a few taxis in Dubai and Abu Dhabi while on vacation. 4-5 kilo journey under AED20.00 (c.€5.00) with 4 passengers, physically hailed by concierge or hired at rank - cheaper than Uber/Careem. Cost of living is higher than Dublin and there was always cars available - although August isn't a particularly busy tourism month in those parts on account of the heat and, like Dublin, most drivers are immigrants.

I also noticed Abu Dhabi taxis have their speed constantly monitored which makes for a far safer and more pleasant experience than currently normal in Dublin. One for NTA.
Title: Re: How Do They Do It?
Post by: john m on August 31, 2019, 10:29:45 am
Probably subsidised with a basic wage from the state .Taxis are for public transport
Title: Re: How Do They Do It?
Post by: Rat Catcher on August 31, 2019, 10:38:30 am
AFAIK they only subsidise fares for disabled passengers. Taxi drivers work for one of two taxi companies in Dubai, at least one of which provides free - paid by Govt - transport for disabled users.Of course they do have a low tax regime and petrol is quite cheap at c.€0.55/litre.
Title: Re: How Do They Do It?
Post by: Rat Catcher on August 31, 2019, 10:40:57 am
NTA could learn a lot from the Sheiks, maybe a fact finding mission would be in order?

First thing the car hire people tell you is don't break the rules of the road, running a red light (for example) has a fixed penalty of AED3,000 - c.€750.00.

https://www.government.ae/en/information-and-services/social-affairs/special-needs/transportation-and-parking- (https://www.government.ae/en/information-and-services/social-affairs/special-needs/transportation-and-parking-)

Dubai Taxi Corporation operates taxis to meet the needs of the people of determination 24 hours a day covering all areas of the emirate and driven by well-trained drivers. These vehicles are fitted with special lifts for the wheelchairs, artificial respiratory systems, a wheelchair on board and seats for the companions.
Title: Re: How Do They Do It?
Post by: Shallowhal on August 31, 2019, 03:26:57 pm
Can they refuse you if you're off your face on drink and drugs?
Title: Re: How Do They Do It?
Post by: Dr. Martin Gooter Bling on August 31, 2019, 03:33:20 pm
I might be wrong but I think only the imported untermenschen drive taxis in those places for slave wages.
it would be beneath a Dubai head to drive a taxi.
Title: Re: How Do They Do It?
Post by: Octavia1 on August 31, 2019, 03:55:24 pm
I wouldnt call that a holiday...getting a lift off sum poor desperate cnut on a dollar a day living in a hut wit 40 other poor cnuts lying on a concrete floor with no air conditioning...apparently wen they die on the building sites they fuk them into the cement mixer an fossilised them ...
They shud rescue the poor indian immigrants and bring them home and then nuke that shit hole
Title: Re: How Do They Do It?
Post by: silverbullet on August 31, 2019, 05:04:40 pm
I wouldnt call that a holiday...getting a lift off sum poor desperate cnut on a dollar a day living in a hut wit 40 other poor cnuts lying on a concrete floor with no air conditioning...apparently wen they die on the building sites they fuk them into the cement mixer an fossilised them ...
They shud rescue the poor indian immigrants and bring them home and then nuke that shit hole
So you've worked for City cabs? Lol
Title: Re: How Do They Do It?
Post by: Rat Catcher on August 31, 2019, 07:00:56 pm
That wasn't the purpose of my vacation, Octy. I just happened to use a few taxis while there and, to be fair, they all seem happy... pleasant, polite and smartly dressed in western style uniforms - shirt, long trousers, shoes. Retail and the entire service industry are predominately staffed by immigrants, including all hotel staff, tour guides, etc... Dublin is going the same way I guess but we could certainly learn from how they do things, particularly in driver training, equipping cars with respiratory systems, free travel for disabled, constant monitoring of speed, traffic light monitoring and realistic penalties for incompetence. BTW, 99.92% of enforcement of the rules of the roads is automated over there with cameras on all traffic lights.

I doubt you'd win any argument in those parts if you're the party under the influence, Hal. A bit of irony that you might appreciate... McGettigans have a bar near the Marina.
Title: Re: How Do They Do It?
Post by: silverbullet on September 01, 2019, 05:37:16 pm
Took a few taxis in Dubai and Abu Dhabi while on vacation. 4-5 kilo journey under AED20.00 (c.€5.00) with 4 passengers, physically hailed by concierge or hired at rank - cheaper than Uber/Careem. Cost of living is higher than Dublin and there was always cars available - although August isn't a particularly busy tourism month in those parts on account of the heat and, like Dublin, most drivers are immigrants.

I also noticed Abu Dhabi taxis have their speed constantly monitored which makes for a far safer and more pleasant experience than currently normal in Dublin. One for NTA.
ArabianBusiness.com: Careem, Uber scrap cheapest ride options in Dubai.
https://www.arabianbusiness.com/transport/426979-careem-uber-scrap-cheapest-ride-options-in-dubai (https://www.arabianbusiness.com/transport/426979-careem-uber-scrap-cheapest-ride-options-in-dubai)
Title: Re: How Do They Do It?
Post by: Bob Shillin on September 01, 2019, 07:19:48 pm
Don't have any desire to ever visit Bling Central Dubai, or Yabba Dabba,
Title: Re: How Do They Do It?
Post by: Rat Catcher on September 02, 2019, 10:37:19 am
It's not all bling! It was my first visit to that part of the world so I found it quite interesting how such capitalistic opulence is accommodated with minimum detraction from the underlying Islamic/Muslim moralistic values. It seems like an unworkable contrast but somehow it works. I think my favourite holiday snap is a picture with a young lady from Iraq who was dressed in the full female wrap including the face cover but had shoes that read (from left to right) "Girl Power". Obviously Abu Dhabi and Dubai are internationalised to a greater extent than the other emirates but you will still find a lot of tradition and you can escape the hustle and bustle by taking a short drive into the desert, if that's your desire.
Title: Re: How Do They Do It?
Post by: Rat Catcher on September 02, 2019, 11:27:59 am
ArabianBusiness.com: Careem, Uber scrap cheapest ride options in Dubai.
https://www.arabianbusiness.com/transport/426979-careem-uber-scrap-cheapest-ride-options-in-dubai (https://www.arabianbusiness.com/transport/426979-careem-uber-scrap-cheapest-ride-options-in-dubai)

I see Uber owned Careem has secured the contract for taxi eHailing in Dubai. Interesting that RTA are taking an active role in developing the eHail infrastructure, again something our own NTA could learn from. I wonder if drivers will have to pay 12% or will it be included in their licence fees?

https://www.arabianbusiness.com/transport/426870-dubais-rta-careem-launch-new-e-hailing-taxi-service-hala?utm_source=Jarvis&utm_medium=arabianbusiness.com&utm_campaign=recommended (https://www.arabianbusiness.com/transport/426870-dubais-rta-careem-launch-new-e-hailing-taxi-service-hala?utm_source=Jarvis&utm_medium=arabianbusiness.com&utm_campaign=recommended)

Dubai's RTA, Careem launch new e-hailing taxi service Hala

Dubai taxi prices will range from AED8-12; Hala aims to bring down the estimated time of arrival to less than 5 minutes

Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) announced on Thursday the official launch of Hala, a joint venture with ride-hailing app Careem.

The new company is the newest way to book a Dubai taxi. Via the Careem app, it enables customers to ride at the touch of a button, a statement said.

A trial run of the e-hailing service started with 2,000 of Dubai taxis but will now cover 5,500 taxis by mid-September.

Dubai taxi prices will range from AED8 during regular hours, AED9 at night and AED12 during peak hours with the aim to bring down the estimated time of arrival (ETA) to less than 5 minutes over the next few months.

Contracts have been signed between Hala and the seven taxi franchise companies in Dubai while Careem’s e-hailing system has been integrated with RTA’s taxi management systems.

Drivers have been trained on receiving e-hailing requests from customers, the statement added.

Bassel Al Nahlaoui, managing director of Careem Gulf and Pakistan, said: “We are very excited to see Hala officially launch today. It is a milestone moment for the industry, with the public and private sectors coming together to bring ride hailing tech to everyday taxis. Residents and visitors of Dubai will now be able to find the closest Dubai Taxi to them on demand, see a fare estimate and time of arrival before booking their ride and connect their credit card for easy, hassle free payment via the Careem app.”
Title: Re: How Do They Do It?
Post by: stonethecrows on September 02, 2019, 11:34:05 am
Good Idea, time to open up a Donut shop in Dubai
Title: Re: How Do They Do It?
Post by: Rat Catcher on September 02, 2019, 11:42:54 am
I assume the AED8-12 (c.€2-3) is the pick up charge for eHailing. I wonder how that will be divided between Careem, drivers, franchise firms and RTA. Their meters are already quite high tech compared to ours with detailed fare and the driver's photograph displayed on a relatively large screen. Integrating the eHail software into that system will provide drivers with a far safer system than we have given that we have to use external tiny telephone screens to work for Uber/Lynk/Free Now/Flag/etc, supplied at our own expense.
Title: Re: How Do They Do It?
Post by: Shallowhal on September 02, 2019, 11:48:53 am
Careemer taxi app.....transits,hiaces and bucket seats buckets for seats!!
Title: Re: How Do They Do It?
Post by: Dr. Martin Gooter Bling on September 02, 2019, 12:21:27 pm
Joe, we're going after the Traveller e-hailing market. Our new app for Travellers is called Paveehicle, Joe.
Title: Re: How Do They Do It?
Post by: silverbullet on September 02, 2019, 08:21:08 pm
Good Idea, time to open up a Donut shop in Dubai
Usama Bin Laden Down With Doughnuts!! 8)
Title: Re: How Do They Do It?
Post by: silverbullet on September 02, 2019, 08:22:44 pm
Joe, we're going after the Traveller e-hailing market. Our new app for Travellers is called Paveehicle, Joe.
I'd go with PIKE -E-HAIL meself!! 8)
Title: Re: How Do They Do It?
Post by: Belker on September 08, 2019, 10:59:26 am
Well fer Dubai Taxi drivers, try this on !

My Chungwan was on a Girlie holiday there last month, 6 girls all aged 30 to 35, they had all their excursions booked in advance through Group-on.

The First trip on Day 1 was a yacht cruise, they ordered 2 Taxies from their hotel in plenty of time, the First Taxi pulled up and 3 of the girls got in, then the Second Taxi pulled up and my Chungwan and 2 others got in requesting to go to the port and asking the driver 'Did he know where the port was ?'. He told them; "Yes, I know the port".
My Chungwan (well clued in) was spotting landmarks she reckoned she should not be seeing, checked her phone fer directions, she told the driver; "Your going the wrong way", the Driver replied; "I know the way, this is the way". She (not to be messed with type of girl) allowed him to carry on fer another few minutes while watching her phone fer directions, then telling him; "You must turn back, we are going the wrong way".

The Taxi driver did eventually turn back and with time getting close she contacted her mates who were already on the boat asking them could they try to hold the boat fer them. Fair Dinkum to her mates they contacted the yacht captain and he did indeed hold the boat fer 10 minutes, but when they did eventually arrive at the port the boat was Gone !

The Taxi driver asked fer the full fare of about AED180 (about 40 Euro) saying that his base would take no less and he was getting aggressive about it, but he was parked next to a security guard at the port and the girls jumped out, paid him AED 40 (about a Tenner) and walked off knowing that the Taxi driver would do nothing with the security guard present, they were all well Peeved at missing their first excursion, most especially because the Taxi driver had told them at the start 'That he knew where the Port was'.

Title: Re: How Do They Do It?
Post by: Rat Catcher on September 08, 2019, 01:29:50 pm
Shoulda used Uber/Careem. Bit more expensive than taxis in Dubai but you put your destination into the app so rules out the same being lost in translation. I woulda thought the yacht would depart the marina, the port is mostly cargo vessels, an interesting visit in itself with many old style vessels being loaded/unloaded largely by hand... or maybe it was the new port (still under construction) where the cruise ships dock. I took a mini cruise from the Marina myself but we didn't book in advance just haggled a decent price for a 90 minute spin around the sights.
Title: Re: How Do They Do It?
Post by: silverbullet on September 08, 2019, 05:29:22 pm
Shoulda used Uber/Careem. Bit more expensive than taxis in Dubai but you put your destination into the app so rules out the same being lost in translation. I woulda thought the yacht would depart the marina, the port is mostly cargo vessels, an interesting visit in itself with many old style vessels being loaded/unloaded largely by hand... or maybe it was the new port (still under construction) where the cruise ships dock. I took a mini cruise from the Marina myself but we didn't book in advance just haggled a decent price for a 90 minute spin around the sights.
Did you invest in the Dhow Jones? 8)
Title: Re: How Do They Do It?
Post by: Belker on September 09, 2019, 01:18:41 pm
They had all their excursions booked through group-on with big discounts before they left, Yacht cruise, quad bikes in the desert, pool party/bar-b-q, and a trip/dinner at the 7 star hotel.
Title: Re: How Do They Do It?
Post by: Shallowhal on September 09, 2019, 01:26:22 pm
7 star hotel?...that sounds a bit makey puppy!!
Title: Re: How Do They Do It?
Post by: Belker on September 09, 2019, 01:30:15 pm
7 star hotel?...that sounds a bit makey puppy!!
No, it's there allright, have a google off it !
https://www.jumeirah.com/en/hotels-resorts/dubai/burj-al-arab/ (https://www.jumeirah.com/en/hotels-resorts/dubai/burj-al-arab/)