A fleet of London-style “black cabs” will be rolled out on the streets of Dubai.
The emirate’s Roads and Transport Authority said the sleek line of taxis – a hybrid design using electricity and fuel – will hit the road next month.
The trial use of the eye-catching vehicles, featuring the famous black colour and semi-curved shape of taxis across much of Britain, will be managed by Dubai Taxi Corporation.
The service will be available at Dubai International Airport during the trial period.
The eco-friendly taxis coming to Dubai:
Dubai’s new range of taxis will have spacious interiors, with room for six seats in a separate cabin from the driver.
The design is well served to meet the needs of people with disabilities.
The taxis are fitted with a satellite-based navigation system, voice command, forward-collision warning, blind-spot monitoring and lane departure warning software, in addition to a Wi-Fi network.
The London taxi has a dual engine for better control of the vehicle under different climate conditions. It also has accelerated braking system and a battery that can be recharged in only 30 minutes.
The news was announced by Mattar Al Tayer, director-general of the RTA, during a visit to the Dubai Taxi Corporation.