Taxis in Abu Dhabi

There was a time when taxis were almost as plentiful as sand in Abu Dhabi. The familiar gold and white 'local' taxis with their little green sign on top were visible everywhere, and a slight hand raise would bring them screeching to a halt beside you. Unfortunately, that day has gone and in its wake is a scene of queues of people waiting in the hot sun, often for up to an hour, ready to do battle for an odd empty taxi to stop and let them into the air conditioned luxury of the gold and white.

Last year, a new taxi company, Trans Abu Dhabi was formed, bringing together the expertise of various taxi companies as well as the men in the gold and whites. Many of the 'local' taxis were taken off the road, beyond repair. Newer taxis that were roadworthy were kept, and the drivers had to do a test to determine whether they could retain the jobs they had been doing quite happily for the past 20 years. Other, new companies advertised for taxi drivers and all seemed to be very positive indeed. However, a few problems have added to the already difficult public transport situation in Abu Dhabi.

Before Trans Abu Dhabi was set up, there were a few taxi companies which you could call if you wanted to book a taxi. Companies such as Al Gazal, Al Gazal Express, Fast Cabs, NTC all had a facility which you could book in advance or with 10 to 15 minutes notice. Al Gazal is one of the main companies involved in Trans Abu Dhabi, and as such has supplied many cars and drivers to the new company. This has resulted in not only street taxis being impossible to get, but now it is a herculean task to actually book and get any kind of taxi at all. Coupled with the daily increase in residents in the city, it is almost impossible to make any kind of arrangements now if you are planning meetings around busy times of the day. At night, it is equally bad as many people work split shift and don't finish work until 7 or 8pm at night.


When we go out now at weekends, my friends and I take it in turns to drive and collect the others. It's easier to get a taxi to take you back to the car in the morning as many people do not work on weekend days, so there are not so many problems.


This new problem has unearthed a few realisations. One is that with thousands of new residents coming to Abu Dhabi every month, a huge injection of funds into public transport is needed - and very soon. Another is that, having to fight my way into a taxi when 5 other people appear just as the taxi is about to stop in front of me has shown me an agressive streak I hadn't been aware of until now!


The main realisation though, is that the days of the 'local' taxi is nearing an end. The new silver taxis are clean and have seat belts, the drivers are learning English and how to get around Abu Dhabi, but the old taxis had something the new ones don't - you didn't know what you'd get when the car stopped! Most of the local taxis are driven by men from Pakistan, Afghanistan and some from India. A conversation would often start with you being asked

"Are you American?"

"No"

"I hate George Bush - Bush is no good"



In the next car:

"Are you American?"

"No"

"I hate Osama Bin Ladan - Osama is no good"



While this conversation would continue, with the passenger being asked about spouse, children, work, number of years in Abu Dhabi etc, a badly tuned cricket match or news chanel from thousands of miles away would be crackling away in the background, or music which appears to have no melody, sound turned up to top volume in order for the driver to hear the words while smiling at a photo of his family pasted on the sun visor.

Abu Dhabi has definitely changed...