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Dubai Taxi Corporation launches new vehicles for special needs service, improves existing ones

Dubai - (United Arab Emirates): The Dubai Taxi Corporation ( DTC ), member in the Roads & Transport Authority (RTA) has launched two brand new vehicles for serving special needs and introduced structural improvements on others currently in service to cope with the modern requirements of serving this category. The launch was made in a ceremony held last Thursday at Heritage Village, Shindagha, in the context of RTA vision to provide Safe & Smooth Transport for All.

The ceremony, which included a group Iftar, was attended by the CEO of Dubai Taxi Corporation Abdul Aziz Malik, Yousef Al Ali, Director Fleet Operations, and Ali Mattar Mohammed, Director of Resources & Support Department in addition to several other RTA officials and representatives of Dubai Police and sponsors of this initiative (Al Futtaim Motors, Juma Al Majid, Hyundai, Al Zarouni International Equipment Co., Dobowi Tires Co., Al Rostamani-Nissan Co., Kassab Media and Advertising Co.).

Commenting on the initiative, the CEO of Dubai Taxi Corporation Abdul Aziz Malik said: "This initiative is part of the strategy of the RTA and DTC and their social responsibilities towards various segments of the community, including special need persons. It is also part and parcel of DTC 's operational plan for this year aiming at boosting its social contribution, enhancing the level of service rendered to customers, and ensuring effective marketing of these services.

" DTC is launching today two new vehicles to serve special need persons offered as gifts from Al Futtaim Motors and Juma Al Majid, the sponsors of this community service, in the context of the ongoing partnership between the DTC and its permanent suppliers. Such sponsorship will contribute to improving and upgrading this community service to the highest possible level such that it will have a definite positive impact on this community segment i.e. special need persons. RTA and DTC are keen on upgrading the quality of services and facilities offered to special need persons and their peers from all walks of the community in view of the paramount importance of taxi sector and its vital role in enhancing the tourist profile of the Emirate and its standing as a premier economic & business hub in the region.

" DTC , in conjunction with the sponsors (Al Zarouni International Equipment Co., Dobowi Tires Co., Al Rustomani-Nissan Co., Kassab Media and Advertising Co.), has carried out modifications and improvements on the two vehicles currently in service in terms of external shape by introducing different designs & images depicting the evolution and old history of Dubai, and fitted them with free-to-use services such a mini fridge for beverages and a monitor to display DTC promotional ads and footage" added Malik.

Reflecting on the past Malik said: " DTC launched special needs vehicles service in 1998 based on humanitarian purposes where four vehicles were allocated and driven by a host of drivers exclusively trained on this type of vehicles. They were fitted with special equipment to assist passengers embarkation and disembarkation, as well as meters in keeping with the applicable system in DTC fleet; which comprises 3504 taxicabs deployed to offer various customer service categories. These include District Taxi, Airport Taxi, Hatta Taxi, Families & Ladies Taxi, and Special Needs Taxi in addition to the standard taxicabs. More than 7500 cab drivers are employed to offer 24-hour taxi service on shift basis.

"This service will be available round-the-clock through placing orders with Booking & Dispatch Center (Tel: 04-2080808) or by hailing a taxicab directly from the street. The fare will be the same applicable to the van vehicles deployed in the fleet. Meter opening charge from 06.00 am to 10.00 pm will be 6 dirham for direct hailing from the street or booking through the Booking & Dispatch Center, and 25 dirham in case the vehicle starts off the Dubai International Airport. Meter opening charge from 10.00 pm to 06.00 am will be 7 dirham for direct hailing from the street or booking through the Booking & Dispatch Center, and 25 dirham in case the vehicle starts off the Dubai International Airport and the fare per kilometer done is 1.75 dirham. Car rental service will be available on this type of vehicles within Dubai Emirate only at a rate of 500 dirham per 6 hours and 800 dirham per 12 hours.

"This contribution, as well as others undertaken by the DTC , comes in the context of RTA vision of providing Safe & Smooth Transport for all. RTA in general and DTC in particular are seeking to broaden and improve the scope of its services in the context of its strategy aiming at providing classy services in keeping with the positive transition witnessed by Dubai Emirate and the need to boost its standing as a reputable global center in all fields. DTC is keen on upgrading its work mechanism and keep abreast of the global developments in this vital area through utilizing all sorts of modern technologies empowering its employees to deliver their jobs in a way compatible with the prosperity and growth drive seen by the UAE in all fields" said the CEO of DTC in a final remark.

On the sidelines of the ceremony, DTC signed Memoranda of Understanding with the six sponsors of the special needs service initiative, and praised their initiative to support the service schemes of this service. For their part the sponsors expressed their utmost delight and appreciation of this community initiative and reiterated their willingness to maintain their effective communication and mobilize their resources and expertise in support of this community segment. They noted that this segment warrants extreme and highly efficient support typical to the prompt response accorded by different sponsors to this initiative; which would contribute to the enhancement of the level of services rendered by the DTC to its customers highlighted by the service of people with special needs.

- Ends -

© Press Release 2010