Business travellers landing at Abu Dhabi’s rapidly expanding Zayed International Airport will soon have a smoother ride into town. The Integrated Transport Centre (ITC), branded as Abu Dhabi Mobility, confirmed on 6 October that 800 additional taxis have been licensed, including 500 high-specification sedans reserved exclusively for airport pickups during peak periods. The remaining 300 cabs will circulate across the capital, improving last-mile connectivity for residents and visitors alike. The move responds to a surge in passenger numbers: Zayed International handled a record 32.5 million travellers last year and expects double-digit growth in the current winter season. Luxury cabs—many equipped with onboard Wi-Fi, contactless card terminals and multilingual navigation systems—aim to reduce wait times at terminal ranks that have occasionally stretched beyond 40 minutes during holiday peaks. The taxi expansion dovetails with broader multimodal plans. Etihad Airways and Etihad Rail recently announced a shuttle concept linking the airline’s Abu Dhabi hub with the forthcoming Mohamed bin Zayed City rail station. Passengers would be able to book rail-plus-air journeys under a single reference, mirroring Europe’s Rail&Fly model. Authorities are also exploring QR-code ticketing that works across taxi, bus, Metro (once extended to Abu Dhabi) and future rail services. For corporates running assignment and rotation programmes in the UAE capital, the larger fleet promises shorter ground-transfer times and a higher probability of securing receipts that meet policy requirements. Relocation managers also welcome the added capacity, noting that arriving families often need larger executive taxis to accommodate luggage and pet carriers—vehicles that were in short supply last Eid season. ITC has not disclosed tariff details, but industry sources expect a modest airport surcharge on the premium cars. The agency says all new drivers have completed English-language customer-service training and disability-awareness modules, supporting Abu Dhabi’s ambition to become a top-tier smart-mobility city.
Source: The National
