Letter: Why are private licensed taxi firms penalised for airport pick and drop?

This content was originally posted in 7DAYS UAE website at: Letter: Why are private licensed taxi firms penalised for airport pick and drop? As a frequent traveller, I regularly use Careem or Uber for my trips to and from the airport. I use them for a variety of reasons: the cars are cleaner; the drivers are safer; they (Careem) have car seats when we’re travelling with our son; they accept credit cards; and electronic receipts are easier to keep track of. Yet, it seems, that the RTA is clamping down on both services and fining drivers dropping and picking passengers up from the airport. As a result, passengers now have to discreetly rendezvous with their drivers in the airport parking lot; or have to say they are being picked up from a hotel in case an RTA inspector stops a car dropping off passengers at the airport. I have some questions for the RTA, which has always been great at responding to 7DAYS readers’ concerns: First, why are Uber and Careem licensed if their services are illegal? Second, Dubai is a great, progressive city: isn’t there a concern about the impression this gives visitors to our city? And finally, why is there a problem with giving us passengers a choice? There’s enough business to go around for everyone and as a customer, I would very much appreciate some clarity from the RTA. My Dubai, Dubai Read the original story at: Letter: Why are private licensed taxi firms penalised for airport pick and drop?