Press Releases
11 Nov 2019
Migrates taxi bookings services to Hala e-hailing platform
Roads & Transport Authority (RTA) announces that taxi Booking and Dispatch services will move entirely to Hala, the joint venture between RTA and Careem, as of December 7, 2019. The move heralds a shift from the interactive voice response system of taxi booking in Dubai to Hala e-hailing system on the Careem app.
“This step marks a paradigm shift of Dubai Taxi booking process from the call system to Hala. It is part of RTA’s strategic drive to support the Dubai Government’s Smart City initiative. This transition comes after a landmark one-millionth booking within days after the official launch of Hala service on 29 August 2019,” said Ahmed Bahrozyan, CEO of RTA’s Public Transport Agency.
“The full transition of taxi booking and dispatch services to Hala platform will start on January 7, 2019. The step contributes to RTA’s objective of revamping taxi services in Dubai to make more accessible through e-hailing, and at the same time advance the integration of public transit means. Among the additional benefits that customers will enjoy from this innovative way of booking a Dubai taxi, is the ability to raise any questions or concerns directly via the Careem in-app chat. Safety and lost & found issues will remain to be handled by RTA’s Call Centre (8009090). Customers will also be able to book taxis from all areas of Dubai with a shorter estimated time of arrival (ETA),” he added.
Highlighting the importance of the transition, Clemence Dutertre, CEO of Hala, said: “Our mission is to offer the best experience to customers when booking a ride. The migration of the Dubai Taxi booking process to Hala will continue to ensure an efficient system for customers and provide access to a wide fleet of taxis round-the-clock.”
“Hala offers an improved way of getting around in the exact same taxi, with shorter ETAs and all the advantages of the Careem app including knowing their route, fare upfront, driver details, Rewards points, and rating their ride,” added Dutertre.
“Several actions have been put into effect in order to guarantee a smooth transition for customers who are used to calling 04-2080808 to order a Dubai Taxi. RTA’s Booking and Dispatch Center has been actively communicating with all customers about Hala as the new and more convenient means to book a Dubai Taxi, whilst Hala has also been supporting RTA with multiple targeted messaging to educate customers about the benefits of e-hailing, along with tutorials on booking a Hala (Dubai Taxi) ride via the Careem app.
“Hala e-services also raise efficiencies among drivers, who are addressed as captains. This is achieved by reducing their downtime on the roads by providing guidance and notification on high taxi demand areas. This helps captains achieve targets, increases their earning potential and makes a real difference to their lives,” she concluded.