The Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology, is working on an improvement plan for the transportation sector, which will include organizing the public transport.
Khamis bin Mohammed al Shammaki, the Undersecretary for land transport, said that currently, 20 female drivers are in the taxi business, which will go up to 200 in the coming years. “We are open to more female taxi operators coming into the field and have not rejected any proposal so far.”
The Ministry recently gave its approval to Aalam Assahab (clouds world) company to provide female taxi service via the Otaxi app, both for immediate and advance bookings. The service offers online tracking of taxi routes at fixed prices set prior to the start of trips.
The license allows female drivers/operators to choose distinctive colors for their vehicles (white, pink).
The service offers (customers) privacy and security. The service will provide employment opportunities for female jobseekers, allowing them to work as taxi drivers or to earn additional income (while in the queue for jobs). It will also benefit female workers, female students, mothers, and children.
The service was launched in Muscat Governorate on January 20.
