Women-only cabs cruise Dubai streets

DUBAI: Pink-coloured, women-only taxis began plying on the roads of the city today to ferry women to and from various parts of the emirate.

The launch of the new service was aimed at providing a safe and comfortable means of transport to women to ensure their free movement, Mohammed Obeid Al Mulla, Executive Manager for Public Transport of the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), said here on Sunday.

“The move is an embodiment of the RTA’s strategy to offer its service to all sectors of the community and secure a modern mass transport system enjoying the highest levels of safety and convenience,” he said.

It is also part of a plan to develop an integrated transport network, contributing to bolstering Dubai’s mark on the world map, he added. In the first phase, he said, around 50 taxis, with pink roofs, pink seats and interiors, and other features to give the vehicles a feminine look, would be deployed at places frequented by women.

A 100 female drivers had undergone training to learn driving, etiquette, customer service, handling emergency cases.