Executive Council Resolution No. (20) of 2021

Amending Executive Council Resolution No. (6) of 2016

Regulating Passenger Transport by Cars in the Emirate of Dubai^{^[1]}

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We, Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Chairman of the Executive Council,

After perusal of:

Law No. (3) of 2003 Establishing the Executive Council of the Emirate of Dubai;

Law No. (17) of 2005 Establishing the Roads and Transport Authority and its amendments;

Law No. (2) of 2014 Concerning Protection of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in the Emirate of Dubai;

Law No. (5) of 2021 Concerning the Dubai International Financial Centre;

Decree No. (22) of 2009 Concerning Special Development Zones in the Emirate of Dubai;

Executive Council Resolution No. (8) of 2006 Establishing the Agencies Affiliated to the Roads and Transport Authority and Approving their Corporate and Organisational Structures;

Executive Council Resolution No. (6) of 2016 Regulating Passenger Transport by Cars in the Emirate of Dubai (the “Original Resolution”); and

The legislation establishing and regulating free zones in the Emirate of Dubai,

Do hereby issue this Resolution.

Superseded Articles

Article (1)

Articles (1), (2), (5), and (7) of the Original Resolution are hereby superseded by the following:

Definitions

Article (1)

The following words and expressions, wherever mentioned in this Resolution, will have the meaning indicated opposite each of them unless the context implies otherwise

Emirate:	The Emirate of Dubai.
RTA:	The Roads and Transport Authority.
Director General:	The director general and chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the RTA.
PTA:	The Public Transport Agency of the RTA.
Taxicab:	A Vehicle designated for transporting Passengers in return for the Tariff prescribed by the RTA.
Luxury Cab:	A Vehicle designated for transporting Passengers which meets the standards and requirements determined by the RTA, and which is used pursuant to an agreement determining the fare, duration, and destination of a trip.
Activity:	Transporting Passengers by Taxicabs or Luxury Cabs.
Establishment:	A company or corporation licensed in the Emirate to conduct the Activity.
Passenger:	A natural person who uses a Taxicab or a Luxury Cab.
Fare	The fare prescribed by the PTA for transporting Passengers by Taxicabs.
Taximeter:	A device approved by the RTA and installed in Taxicabs which displays the Fare that must be paid in return for using Taxicabs.
Franchise Agreement:	An agreement whereby the RTA appoints an Establishment to provide the service of Passenger transport by Taxicabs or Luxury Cabs in accordance with the relevant agreed terms and conditions.
Person with Disability:	A person suffering from a long-term physical, mental, or sensory deficiency or impairment that may hinder his full or effective participation in the society on an equal footing with others.

Functions of the PTA

Article (2)

For the purposes of this Resolution, the PTA will have the duties and powers to:

1. determine applications for the authorisations governed by the provisions of this Resolution;

2. issue approvals for taxicabs licensed in other emirates to retransport Passengers from the Emirate in accordance with the relevant conditions and procedures prescribed by the RTA;

3. determine the number of cars that an Establishment may use in conducting the Activity;

4. conclude Franchise Agreements to provide Passenger transport services by Taxicabs and Luxury Cabs; and assess their efficiency, effectiveness, safety, and quality;

5. establish and approve the technical and safety standards required for operating Taxicabs and Luxury Cabs;

6. determine the requirements for facilitating the use of Taxicabs by Persons with Disabilities;

7. monitor compliance by Establishments with the terms of the authorisations issued by the PTA and with the terms of the Franchise Agreements concluded with them;

8. create a database of the service of Passenger transport by Taxicabs and Luxury Cabs, and conduct specialised studies to develop and improve this service in the Emirate;

9. organise training courses as required for the qualification of Taxicab and Luxury Cab drivers; and

10. perform any other duties required for regulating the Activity in the Emirate.

Prohibited Acts

Article (5)

The following acts are hereby prohibited:

1. conducting the Activity in the Emirate without first obtaining the relevant authorisation from the PTA;

2. driving Taxicabs or Luxury Cabs without first obtaining the relevant authorisation from the PTA and completing the relevant training courses approved by the PTA;

3. transporting Passengers for a consideration using cars which are not licensed in the Emirate to conduct the Activity;

4. transporting Passengers from the Emirate to other emirates without first obtaining the relevant approval from the PTA or in violation of the requirements and procedures prescribed by the RTA in this respect;

5. providing the service of on-demand Passenger transport by car, requested through telephone calls, electronic media, smart applications, or any other method, without first obtaining the relevant authorisation from the PTA;

6. promoting the service of Passenger transport by cars which are not licensed in the Emirate to conduct the Activity, or advertising this service by calling out to Passengers or through any other method;

7. transporting Passengers by a Taxicab without operating the Taximeter at the beginning of each trip;

8. operating a Taxicab without an installed Taximeter, or tampering with the Taximeter with the intent of changing the Fare;

9. operating a Luxury Cab as a Taxicab or vice versa; and

10. operating a Taxicab or Luxury Cab without first satisfying the conditions and requirements determined by the RTA, particularly safety requirements.

Violations and Administrative Penalties

Article (7)

a. Without prejudice to any stricter penalty stipulated in any other resolution, a person who commits any of the acts stated in Schedule (2) attached hereto will be punished by the fine indicated opposite that act.

b. The total amount of the fines imposed on a violator may not exceed the following amounts per year:

1. thirty thousand dirhams (AED 30,000.00) for violations committed by individuals; and

2. fifty thousand dirhams (AED 50,000.00) for violations committed by Establishments.

c. In addition to the penalty of a fine referred to in paragraph (a) of this Article, the RTA may take one or more of the following measures and actions against a violator:

1. suspending the Activity for a period not exceeding six (6) months;

2. suspending the driving licence for a period not exceeding six (6) months;

3. suspending the authorisation to work as a Taxicab or Luxury Cab driver for a period not exceeding six (6) months;

4. revoking the authorisation to work as a Taxicab or Luxury Cab driver;

5. impounding the car used in committing the violation for a period not exceeding six (6) months; and/ or

6. revoking the authorisation and coordinating with the competent commercial licensing authority in the Emirate to cancel the commercial licence.

d. The RTA may, pursuant to a written request submitted to it by a driver or an entity whose authorisation is revoked, issue a new authorisation after the lapse of one (1) year from the date of the revocation of the previous authorisation. The new authorisation will be issued in accordance with the relevant procedures and rules adopted by the RTA.

e. The authorisation of a violating driver may not be renewed unless he completes the relevant training courses prescribed by the PTA.

Supersession of Schedule

Article (2)

Schedule (2), entitled 'Violations and Fines' and attached to the Original Resolution, is hereby superseded by the Schedule attached to this Resolution.

New Article

Article (3)

The following new article is hereby inserted into the Original Resolution:

Scope of Application

Article (1)bis

The provisions of this Resolution apply throughout the Emirate, including in Special Development Zones and free zones, such as the Dubai International Financial Centre.

Publication and Commencement

Article (4)

This Resolution will be published in the Official Gazette and will come into force on the day on which it is published.

Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum

Crown Prince of Dubai

Chairman of the Executive Council

Issued in Dubai on 12 July 2021

Corresponding to 2 Thu al-Hijjah 1442 A.H.

Schedule (2)

Violations and Fines

SN	Violation	Fine (in dirhams)
1	Conducting the Activity in the Emirate without first obtaining the relevant authorisation from the PTA	10,000.00
2	Operating a Taxicab or a Luxury Cab without first obtaining the relevant authorisation from the PTA	5,000.00
3	Driving a Taxicab or a Luxury Cab by a person who does not hold an authorisation from the PTA	5,000.00
4	Violation by an Establishment of the terms of the authorisation issued to it by the PTA	5,000.00
5	Violation by the driver of a Taxicab or a Luxury Cab of the terms of the authorisation issued to him by the PTA	2,000.00
6	Transporting Passengers for a consideration using Vehicles which are not licensed to conduct the Activity	5,000.00
7	Transporting Passengers from the Emirate to another emirate without first obtaining the approval of the PTA or in violation of the requirements and procedures prescribed by the RTA in this respect	5,000.00
8	Promoting the service of Passenger transport by cars which are not licensed to conduct the Activity, or advertising this service by calling out to Passengers or through any other method	5,000.00
9	Providing the service of on-demand Passenger transport by car, requested through telephone calls, electronic media, smart applications, or any other method, without first obtaining the relevant authorisation from the PTA	5,000.00
10	Transporting Passengers by a Taxicab without operating the Taximeter at the beginning of each trip	2,500.00
11	Operating a Taxicab without a Taximeter, or tampering with the Taximeter with the intent of changing the Fare, by a driver	3,000.00
12	Operating a Taxicab without a Taximeter, or tampering with the Taximeter with the intent of changing the Fare, by an Establishment	10,000.00
13	Operating a Luxury Cab as a Taxicab or vice versa	10,000.00
14	Operating a Taxicab or a Luxury Cab without satisfying the requirements prescribed by the RTA, particularly safety requirements	5,000.00
15	Failure to comply with the Fare prescribed by the RTA	500.00 per trip
16	Stopping or disconnecting the Taximeter when transporting Passengers in cars coming into the Emirate from another emirate, or violating any requirements or instructions issued by the RTA in this respect	1,000.00

[1]Every effort has been made to produce an accurate and complete English version of this legislation. However, for the purpose of its interpretation and application, reference must be made to the original Arabic text. In case of conflict, the Arabic text will prevail.