Asan Tata— November 15, 2026Dubai taxi companies will now be rated on a five-star scale. The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) launched the new Dubai taxi rating system on 15 November 2026, and it links each company’s rating to real rewards. Top-rated firms earn extra taxi plates, while lower-rated firms must improve their service.
For passengers, the change matters every day. Taxis are one of the most used ways to get around Dubai, carrying more than 209 million people in 2025. A visible rating should make it easier to know which companies run clean cars, accept bookings, drive safely and respond to complaints.
Quick Answer
The RTA has launched a five-star Dubai taxi rating for the emirate’s five taxi companies, based on four pillars and 18 indicators: sustainability, technology, accountability and reliability. Companies rated five stars receive seven extra taxi plates, a certificate and a trophy. Four-star companies receive five extra plates. Companies rated three stars or fewer must take steps to improve. Ratings will be shown on smart screens inside taxis and on boards at company headquarters.
What Is the Five-Star Taxi Rating System?
The RTA is Dubai’s transport authority. It regulates the taxi sector, sets fares and licences the companies that run taxis in the emirate. The new five-star system is its latest step to raise service quality across the sector.
Under the system, each of the five taxi companies is assessed on measures that cover the full journey, from booking a car to reaching the destination. The aim is not only to measure service levels. The RTA says the system is built to drive continuous improvement, with incentives tied to results and greater transparency between operators.
Mattar Al Tayer, Director General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of RTA, said the taxi sector is a key part of Dubai’s integrated mobility system. He said the authority is moving from simply measuring service levels to building an integrated system for continuous improvement.
The Five Taxi Companies in Dubai
Five companies operate taxis in Dubai under RTA regulation. Every car runs on the same regulated meter, so the fare does not depend on which company’s taxi you ride in. The roof colour shows which franchise operates it, not a price tier.
| Company | What to know |
|---|---|
| Dubai Taxi Company | The government-owned operator, also known as Dubai Taxi Corporation (DTC) |
| Kabi Taxi | One of the private franchise operators in the emirate |
| National Taxi | One of the private franchise operators in the emirate |
| Arabia Taxi | One of the private franchise operators in the emirate |
| Metro Taxi | One of the private franchise operators in the emirate |
All five companies are covered by the new rating system. That means passengers should eventually be able to compare them on the same measures, whether they hail a car on the street or book one through an app.
How the Dubai Taxi Rating Scores Companies: Four Pillars and 18 Indicators
The rating is built on four pillars, supported by 18 indicators in total. The RTA has not published a full scoring table, but it has explained what each pillar covers: how well vehicles are used, how drivers respond to bookings, how companies handle complaints and how customers rate their trips.
Sustainability
The sustainability pillar looks at how green each company’s fleet is. It covers the number of electric and hydrogen-powered vehicles the company runs, the ratio of drivers to vehicles, and the share of productive kilometres against total kilometres travelled. Average trip ratings are also considered here.
This pillar links to Dubai’s wider clean-transport goals. The RTA aims to make public transport completely zero-emission by 2050, and it plans to convert its entire taxi and limousine fleet to electric and hydrogen-powered vehicles by 2040.
Technology
The technology pillar measures how far each company has adopted smart systems. It covers the uptake of e-hailing, the use of electronic payments and driver management systems. It also checks whether companies follow the rules on drivers’ working hours. For passengers, this pillar is about convenience: easy app booking and card payments.
Accountability
The accountability pillar looks at safety and how companies deal with problems. Indicators include serious traffic accidents, quality violations, complaints about reckless driving and customer satisfaction. Driver satisfaction with e-hailing is also part of this pillar.
This is the pillar that matters most when something goes wrong. A company that scores well should take complaints seriously, act on reckless driving reports and keep its accident record low.
Reliability
The reliability pillar measures whether a taxi is there when you need it. Indicators include vehicle availability during peak hours, the number of vehicles active on the e-hailing system, drivers’ acceptance of booking requests and vehicle cleanliness.
Anyone who has waited for a taxi at a busy mall on a Friday evening will know why this pillar matters. A reliable company keeps enough cars on the road at peak times and keeps them clean.
What Top-Rated Companies Get
The ratings carry real rewards. Extra taxi plates mean a company can put more cars on the road, which directly grows its business. That gives every operator a strong reason to improve.
| Rating | Reward or consequence |
|---|---|
| Five stars | Seven additional taxi plates, plus a certificate and a trophy from RTA |
| Four stars | Five additional taxi plates, plus recognition from RTA |
| Three stars or fewer | Improvement measures aimed at raising performance and service standards |
Al Tayer said the RTA has been keen for the rating to drive development, not merely to measure performance. The rating levels are linked to incentives that encourage leading companies to keep their position, while measures are introduced to improve the performance of lower-rated companies.
How Passengers Will See the Ratings
The RTA will make the ratings visible to passengers in two ways. First, company scores will be displayed on smart screens inside taxis. Second, rating boards will be installed at the entrances of company headquarters.
The in-taxi screens are the part that matters most to riders. A passenger will be able to see the rating of the company whose car they are sitting in. Over time, that should help people choose better-performing operators when they book through an app, where the company name is shown before the trip starts.
No date has been announced for the first published ratings, and the RTA has not said how often scores will be updated.
Dubai Taxi Sector in Numbers
The new rating system arrives as Dubai’s taxi sector keeps growing. The figures below were published by the RTA alongside the launch.
| Figure | Number |
|---|---|
| Taxi companies | 5 |
| Total taxis in 2025 | More than 14,346 |
| Electric or hybrid taxis | 12,380 |
| Trips completed in 2025 | More than 120 million |
| Passengers carried in 2025 | More than 209 million |
| Share of public transport, shared mobility and taxi users | 27 per cent |
| Green vehicles in the taxi and limousine fleet | More than 72 per cent |
| Electric vehicles in the fleet | 19 per cent, above the 2026 target |
Taxis accounted for 27 per cent of all users of public transport, shared mobility and taxi services in Dubai in 2025. That share shows how central taxis remain to daily travel, even as the Metro, buses and ride-hailing apps grow. More than 72 per cent of the taxi and limousine fleet now uses green vehicles, including hybrids, and the move to fully electric vehicles has reached 19 per cent, above the target set for 2026.
What the Rating Means for Passengers
For most riders, the rating system will not change the fare. All RTA taxis run on the same regulated meter. What should change, over time, is the quality of the ride. Cars should be cleaner, because cleanliness is a scored indicator. Taxis should be easier to find at peak hours, because availability is scored. Drivers should accept more booking requests, because acceptance rates are scored. Complaints should be handled better, because customer satisfaction and reckless-driving complaints are scored.
Passengers also have a part to play. The trip ratings that riders give after a journey feed into the assessment. Rating your trip honestly, whether good or bad, helps the system reflect real service levels.
Dubai Taxi Fares: A Quick Reminder
The rating system does not change fares. Dubai taxi fares are set by the RTA and run on a meter in every car. The table below gives the standard rates for street-hail rides. The per-kilometre rate is adjusted from time to time in line with fuel prices, so the meter in the car is always the final authority for your trip.
| Fare item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Flag fall, street hail, 6am to 10pm | AED 5 |
| Flag fall, street hail, 10pm to 6am | AED 5.50 |
| Minimum fare, street hail | AED 12 |
| Minimum fare, app booking | AED 13 |
| Per kilometre | Around AED 2.20, varies with monthly fuel adjustments |
| Airport pickup | Around AED 20 to AED 25 flat surcharge |
App-booked rides also carry a booking surcharge on top of the flag fall. The surcharge is higher at peak hours and lower off-peak. Always check the fare shown in the app before you confirm a booking, and check the meter at the start of a street-hail trip.
How to Book a Taxi and How to Complain
There are several ways to get a Dubai taxi. You can hail one on the street or at a taxi rank outside a mall, hotel or Metro station. You can also book through the Careem app (Hala Taxi), the DTC Smart App or the S’hail app. Booking through an app shows the company name, the car details and the expected fare before the trip starts.
If you have a problem with a taxi ride, you can raise it with the RTA. Keep the trip details, including the taxi number, the date and time, and the route. Complaints about reckless driving, overcharging, refusal to take a trip or a dirty car can be reported to the RTA through its call centre on 800 9090, through the RTA Dubai app, or through the S’hail app.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the RTA five-star taxi rating?
It is a new system launched by Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority on 15 November 2026. It rates the five Dubai taxi companies from one to five stars, based on four pillars and 18 indicators covering sustainability, technology, accountability and reliability.
What do five-star taxi companies receive?
A five-star company receives seven additional taxi plates, plus a certificate and a trophy from the RTA. A four-star company receives five additional plates. Companies rated three stars or fewer must take steps to improve their service.
Where can passengers see the ratings?
The RTA will show company scores on smart screens inside taxis and on rating boards at the entrances of company headquarters. No date has been announced for the first published ratings.
Will the rating change taxi fares?
No. Fares are set by the RTA and are the same for every company. The rating is about service quality, not price. Standard street-hail fares start at AED 5 in the day and AED 5.50 at night, with a minimum fare of AED 12.
How can I complain about a Dubai taxi?
You can report a problem to the RTA call centre on 800 9090, or through the RTA Dubai app or the S’hail app. Keep the taxi number, date, time and route details ready when you complain.
Disclaimer: This article is for general information only. The RTA has announced the five-star rating system, but it has not yet published the first company ratings or a full scoring table. Fare figures can change with RTA updates, so always check the meter in the car and the RTA’s official channels before your trip. This website is not affiliated with the RTA or any taxi company.
Sources: Khaleej Times, 15 November 2026 (RTA launches 5-star rating system to rank Dubai taxi companies); Emirates 24|7, 15 November 2026 (Dubai RTA launches five-star rating system for taxi companies); RTA taxi fare information as published by Dubai Taxi Company and RTA fare guides, October-November 2026.
Last Updated: 15 November 2026
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