All taxis in Muscat will have meters starting June 2019

Oman’s Ministry Of Transport and Communication has announced changes to the taxi fare regulation system in the country.

“Starting June 2019, all taxis in Muscat will have meters, that will start at a base fare of 300bz and will increase at a rate of 130 bz per kilometre. It will start in Muscat , then move to other governorates,” the Minister of Transport and Communication, His Exellency Dr. Ahmed Al Futaisi said in a press conference on Thursday morning.

Taxis will also have an engaged system. Al Futaisi added, “Taxis will have an engaged system meaning they can no longer pick up other passengers if they already have a passenger in the taxi,” Al Futaisi said.

Every taxi must also have an operation card.

Airport and hotel taxis will not be included in the decision. Speaking to Times of Oman, Eng. Salim bin Mohammed Al Nuaimi, Undersecretary for the Ministry of Transport and Communication said, “This decision of will not apply to airport taxis, as we have already given standards and specifications to Mwasalat, which is the company in charge of airport taxis, and the same was done with Marhaba for hotel taxis.”

“With this decision, we are focussing on freelance taxis,” Al Nuaimi added.

This article originally appeared on: https://timesofoman.com/article/353127/Oman/Transport/New-taxi-fare-regulations-announced-by-Omans-transport-ministry