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Al Yousuf invests Dh65m to set up taxi venture

DubaiThursday, August 11, 2005

Dubai-based diversified business conglomerate Al Yousuf Group is investing Dh65 million in setting up Advantage Taxi, Sharjah's fourth taxi franchise and Al Yousuf's latest enterprise.

Mohammad Al Haddad, general manager of Advantage Taxi, told Gulf News yesterday that the company has started operations with 10 taxis plying on Sharjah's streets.

Al Yousuf Group secured the franchise from Sharjah Transport Authority recently.

Advantage Taxi, which will have more than 900 drivers when it reaches full strength, is the first in the UAE to operate a fleet of Chevrolet vehicles.

"We are hiring more than 500 drivers bearing the GCC driving licence to run the cabs. Every week we are adding 10 taxis on the street and plans are to have a fleet of 850 taxis running on the streets of Sharjah by March 2006," he said.

The fleet will consist mostly of Chevrolet Epicas but also 20 Chevrolet Uplander family vans. The first family-sized taxi vehicles in Sharjah, the Uplanders are ideal for larger groups and for those with lots of luggage on their way to or from Sharjah International Airport. A 20-day training programme for every driver, all of whom speak English, includes classes in safe driving, customer service, appropriate presentation and behaviour.

"We are hiring drivers locally and regionally and providing them with proper training to deal with the customers in accordance with the requirements," he said.

He said the total amount involves the setting up of a taxi service centre, parking facilities and associated infrastructure as well as the cost of the vehicles.

Abdallah Al Zari, general manager of Sharjah Transport Authority, said: "Sharjah Transport Authority is pleased to award this taxi license to such a pioneering and established company as Al Yousuf. With a strong history of growth that has always served the development of the UAE, Al Yousuf will contribute to the increasingly vibrant Sharjah economy, and its continued growth, through the Advantage Taxi franchise."

Suhail Zain Eldeen, chief operations officer of the Al Yousuf Group, said, "This business marks a strategic step for the group and reflects our commitment both to diversifying into new areas and expanding the scope of our operations in fields were we have a strong competitive advantage."

The group holds distributorships through Al Yousuf Motors, which include General Motors brands such as Chevrolet and other manufacturers, such as Daihatsu, Daewoo, Suzuki and Yamaha.

The Al Yousuf Group was founded in Dubai in 1953 and since then has grown to become one of the UAE's leading commercial groups.

Al Yousuf operates across a wide range of industries, including automobiles, marine, manufacturing, real estate, information and communication technology, electronics goods and chemicals.

©Gulf News