MTCIT to intensify efforts to get street taxis to join apps
Published: 10:05 AM,May 21,2025 | EDITED : 02:05 PM,May 21,2025
Muscat: With its efforts to get Orange and White Street taxis to join licensed app-based companies, the Ministry of Transport, Communications, and Information Technology (MTCIT) intends to launch a public awareness campaign to educate drivers on the importance of joining the application with the help of specialized international and regional companies.
According to the sources in the industry, despite repeated deadlines, getting everyone on board has been challenging, even though thousands of drivers are already operating under app-based companies.
MTCIT has been stressing that taxi apps are essential to ensure transparency by setting fixed prices before the trip, and security by tracking and monitoring the route. The licensed companies will guarantee drivers that services are available quickly.
The clear pricing and payment systems will benefit both drivers and customers, apart from the ease of use and privacy of the user's data.
MTCIT wanted all Orange and White taxis should be part of the licensed companies from April 1, 2025, but efforts are yet to yield results. But several owners are reluctant to adapt to the new system, including the conditions and fares set by the companies and the ministry.
Individual taxi operators can join OTaxi, Tasleem, Marhaba, Oman Taxi, Hala, and Taxi Muscat, which operate via mobile applications.
The government said it has determined to improve and raise the level of taxi services in the country.
As of January 2025, there are 28,241 registered taxis in the Sultanate of Oman, and several of them operate under companies. Speaking to the Observer, Eng Khamis bin Mohammed al Shammakhi, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology for Transport, said, “We focus a lot on streamlining taxi services as part of our plans to improve public transport and the main objective is to ensure that all taxis should be metered (even orange and white street taxis ) through applications.” He said that there have been challenges, but progress has been made on that front. “Today, we have eight app-based taxi companies operating in the country.”
According to the sources in the industry, despite repeated deadlines, getting everyone on board has been challenging, even though thousands of drivers are already operating under app-based companies.
MTCIT has been stressing that taxi apps are essential to ensure transparency by setting fixed prices before the trip, and security by tracking and monitoring the route. The licensed companies will guarantee drivers that services are available quickly.
The clear pricing and payment systems will benefit both drivers and customers, apart from the ease of use and privacy of the user's data.
MTCIT wanted all Orange and White taxis should be part of the licensed companies from April 1, 2025, but efforts are yet to yield results. But several owners are reluctant to adapt to the new system, including the conditions and fares set by the companies and the ministry.
Individual taxi operators can join OTaxi, Tasleem, Marhaba, Oman Taxi, Hala, and Taxi Muscat, which operate via mobile applications.
The government said it has determined to improve and raise the level of taxi services in the country.
As of January 2025, there are 28,241 registered taxis in the Sultanate of Oman, and several of them operate under companies. Speaking to the Observer, Eng Khamis bin Mohammed al Shammakhi, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology for Transport, said, “We focus a lot on streamlining taxi services as part of our plans to improve public transport and the main objective is to ensure that all taxis should be metered (even orange and white street taxis ) through applications.” He said that there have been challenges, but progress has been made on that front. “Today, we have eight app-based taxi companies operating in the country.”