Taxi apps have become a part of our lives. Especially in cities like Dubai where people have a fast lifestyle, taxi apps make it convenient for people to easily travel to places.
Taxi booking apps bring the hectic job of finding a ride to the user’s fingertips. Now with these apps, they do not have to look for rental cars or taxis manually. All they need to do is to enter their current location and destination to book a taxi. Whether, it’s an emergency, routine travel, or planned out-of-city vacation, you can get a taxi for every requirement.
The success of top taxi booking apps in Dubai lies in the comfort, convenience, and features they offer to the users. If your taxi business is lagging, it’s time to digitalize your business. With a customized taxi booking app you can expand your reach, boost booking rates, and increase profits.
However, before you jump into this bandwagon, let’s review the top taxi booking apps in Dubai. Market research helps you understand your competitors and gives you a clear understanding of your target audience.
How do taxi businesses work in Dubai?
Top taxi booking apps in Dubai function similarly to other cities. However, there are a few licenses and permits that you will have to apply for. These licenses apply to all the taxi businesses operating in Dubai.
Some of the important licenses are:
- Business license: Once you decide the business structure of your venture, you will need to apply for a business license accordingly.
- Taxi permit: Government regulations in Dubai also mandate taxi permits to operate taxis. You will have to apply to the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) for this permit. This permit will allow you to use a specific number of taxis and drivers.
- Transport license: To set up your taxi business in Dubai, you will also need a transport license. For this, you need to apply to the National Transport Authority.
- Commercial license: Commercial license is mandatory to start your business in Dubai. The license fee and application process depend on your business type. In this case, you will have to pay a fee according to the vehicle’s weight.
- Insurance: All your vehicles should be covered under proper insurance schemes.
- Driver permit: The Dubai government mandates driver permits for taxi drivers. This is important documentation that you need to check while onboarding drivers.
- Other documentation: Additionally, you may also need a trade license and tax registration certificate. Further, you will have to register your business with the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
These licenses and documents are necessary to operate your taxi business legally.
Top 5 taxi booking apps in Dubai
1. Careem
With 10M+ downloads, Careem is currently the top taxi booking app in Dubai. Clean, affordable, and safe rides are why users prefer Careem over other taxi booking apps.
Careem offers local, city-to-city, and rental bookings. Additionally, users can also book rental bikes on Careem. As of now, Careem has a record-breaking 4.2-star rating. The app supports both iOS and Android devices.
Other than Dubai, Careem operates across 12 countries covering 100+ cities. Further, it has 50 million registered users on the app. Along with taxi services, Careem also offers food and grocery delivery services. So, overall it is a super app in itself.
Revenue Model
Though Careem has not openly stated its revenue, it’s expected to have an annual revenue of $1 billion.
The Careem’s revenue model is as follows:
Commissions: Careem charges a fixed commission on every ride.
Subscriptions: The Careem taxi booking app also offers subscription plans for its regular customers. With a subscription, users can get up to 10% credit back on 10 rides + Hala, free delivery, and more benefits.
Platform charges: Additionally, Careem also has a minimum platform charge on its all services.
2. Uber UAE
Second on our list of top taxi booking apps in Dubai is Uber UAE. The app has a whopping 500M+ downloads and a 4.4-star rating. Uber UAE offers economical and safe rides which is why it is voted as the most reliable taxi app by the customers.
The app has a one-tap safety feature that allows customers to contact emergency services immediately. Once you click the emergency button, the app automatically shares your location and trip details with the emergency services.
Another distinguishable feature of Uber UAE is its executive rides. These executive rides come with premium features for special occasions.
The success of Uber UAE comes from its dedication to offering positive booking and ride experiences.
The app is available on both Google Play and App Store.
Revenue Model
Last year, Uber reported a total revenue of $31.8 billion globally. The ride segment accounted for $14 million in revenue.
Further, Uber successfully completed 7.6 billion rides worldwide in 2022.
The monetization model Of Uber UAE is as follows:
Commissions: Uber charges a fixed commission percentage on each ride. The percentage varies with the ride type and vehicle.
Surge rates: The taxi booking app implies a surge pricing on bookings during peak times. This allows the company to efficiently manage demand and supply while maximizing its revenue. These surge rates are sometimes 3x to 4x the normal rate.
Promotional partnerships: A major part of the revenue comes from promotions and advertisements. Uber partners with companies like Pepsi, Hilton, BMW, Starwood, and Spotify. These collaborations boost the company’s marketing and revenue.
Other revenue streams: Uber’s total revenue also includes Uber Freight and Uber for Business.
3. S’Hail
S’Hail is a travel companion app developed by the Roads and Transport Authority of Dubai. You can use the app to plan and book your public transport journeys.
It is steadily making progress and joining others in the top taxi booking apps in Dubai. The success of S’Hail goes to its unique features, in-app services, and user-friendly app interface.
Unlike other taxi booking apps, S’Hail offers a much easier booking experience. Additionally, the app also enables you to view public transport routes and explore other modes of transport. You can view the routes and schedules of the tram, metro, marine, e-hailing, and more.
Further, the app also has a tourist section where you can explore the popular spots across Dubai. The best thing is that you can view and save Dubai city maps and guides for offline use.
The app smoothly functions on both iOS and Android devices. You can use the app in guest mode or create an RTA account.
Revenue model
Last year S’Hail generated $952 million in revenue.
A majority of the app’s revenue comes from in-app purchases and online public journeys booked. Moreover, the total revenue also includes RTA’s other digital channels.
4. Arabia Taxi LLC
Founded in 2005, Arabia Taxi LLC is one of the top taxi booking apps in Dubai. It is the oldest and most reliable taxi booking app in Dubai. The app offers taxi services across Dubai, Ajman, Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, Sharjah, and Ras Al Khaimah.
Though the company does not have a large network of operating taxis, it hails an excellent reputation. The platform believes in offering premium and quality ride experiences with the utmost safety features.
You can find the Arabia Taxi app on App Store and Google Play.
Revenue Model
Arabia Taxi LLC reported a total revenue of $5.6 million in 2022.
The revenue comes from the following sources:
Platform fees: The app charges a fixed platform fee on every ride. However, the fee varies with distance and vehicle selected.
Commissions: Arabia Taxi LLC also applies a small commission charge on each ride. The commission percentage depends on the ride type. Local rides include lower commissions than outstation rides.
5. DTC Smart Taxi App
Last on our list is the DTC smart taxi booking app. Similar to S’Hail, DTC is a subsidiary app of the Roads and Transport Authority of Dubai. What makes DTC among the top taxi booking apps in Dubai, is its premium rides feature that lets you book a limousine.
You also have the option to book economical taxi rides as well. Further, you can choose and hire expert female and male drivers from the app.
Additionally, the app also allows you to explore the top destinations in the city. Other features of the app include trip tracking, ride history, real-time booking, ride planning and booking, and more.
The app is available only for Android users.
Revenue model
DTC revenue comes from commissions which range from 25% to 30%. The commission depends on the type of ride booked and the distance.
Why is there a need for a taxi booking mobile app in Dubai?
Statista research states that the UAE taxi app market revenue will reach $0.84 billion in 2023. Further, the study predicts that the taxi app market will grow at a CAGR of 3.93% in the country. At this rate, the market is expected to cross $0.98 billion by the end of 2027.
If you are to start a taxi business in Dubai, now is the right time. With custom taxi booking app development, you get the competitive advantage of introducing new features and offering more convenience and a better customer experience. These three key pillars will help you stand out from the top taxi apps in Dubai.
Here are a few key factors that will give you a competitive edge over Careem, Uber, and other top taxi apps used in Dubai.
1. Vehicle Options: Offering a variety of vehicle options to choose from based on the user’s budget and preferences can help a taxi app attract a wider audience.
2. Safety Features: Ensuring optimal safety with background checks and ratings of drivers can help build trust with users.
3. Rewards and Incentives: Offering rewards and incentives to users can make the app more appealing and encourage repeat usage.
4. User Interface: A user-friendly interface that is easy to navigate can make the app more attractive to users.
5. Real-time Tracking: Providing real-time tracking of the ride can help users keep track of their ride and feel more secure.
6. Review and Rating System: Including a review and rating system can help users make informed decisions and improve credibility.
7. Customizable Preferences: Allowing users to customize their ride preferences, such as music, AC, and conversation, can enhance the user experience.
8. Transparent Pricing: Providing transparent pricing before the ride can help users make informed decisions and avoid surprises.
9. Advanced Booking: Offering advanced booking options can cater to users who prefer to plan ahead.
By incorporating these taxi app features and factors, a taxi booking app can differentiate itself from competitors and attract a wider audience.
How does Netweb Tech specialize in developing a taxi booking app?
As a taxi app development company, Netweb Tech specializes in developing customized taxi booking apps that are user-friendly and high revenue generating.
Here are some ways we can help you build a top taxi booking app in Dubai.
1. Customized Solutions: Netweb Tech provides customized taxi booking app development services that cater to the specific needs of taxi businesses.
2. Expertise: With years of experience in mobile app development, we have the industry expertise to develop high-quality taxi booking apps that are user-friendly and efficient.
3. Market Research: Our team conducts thorough market research to understand your target audience and their needs, which helps in developing a taxi booking app that meets their requirements.
4. Tech Stack: Our developers are proficient with the latest technology stack to develop taxi booking apps that are fast, reliable, and scalable.
5. Innovative Features: We can help you develop innovative features for your taxi booking app, such as GPS navigation, real-time tracking, and customizable preferences.
6. Quality Assurance: Netweb Tech ensures that the taxi booking app is thoroughly tested for quality and performance before it is launched in the market.
By leveraging its expertise and experience in mobile app development, Netweb Tech can help businesses develop a high-quality taxi booking app that meets your business goals and user needs.
