Saudi Arabia To Rollout A New Taxi App Called 'Easy Taxi'

By Norain Shamsi / Riyadh

Saudi Arabia has become the latest GCC country to rollout out a taxi application, allowing people to order and track their cab online. Following similar moves by Dubai’s transport regulator, Germany-based Rocket Internet will develop the app, called Easy Taxi, for Saudi’s taxi fleet.

It will cost $7m Saudi Riyals, with its introduction expected this month, local news outlets reported.
Saudi has implemented new laws banning taxi drivers from random passenger pickups at public locations, including malls, airports, commercial outlets and hospitals.

According to the new law, which came into effect on Tuesday, passengers who require a cab will need to call and make a booking in advance.

The free taxi-ordering mobile app allows users to book taxis and rate drivers, the Gazette said.

Rocket Internet was reported as saying it wanted to get 100,000 to 150,000 taxis connected to the app throughout the GCC.

“It really transforms the logistics in the countries where we launch this service,” Eyad Al-Kassar, Rocket Internet’s managing director for the Middle East, told INN Live.

According to the new law, taxi companies will be obliged to meet traffic department standards and maintain a quota of vehicles on their operating licence, depending on the size of the city and its population.

Taxi drivers found guilty of violating the new rules will be fined SR200-SR400 and face possible licence cancellation.