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The mystery of cabs in UAE.


pinoy1
lol. I wouldn't quite agree to this until I experienced it recently.
I was waiting for a taxi in the gold souq area. I hailed one and I thought it's stopping for me. To my dismay the driver didn't even glance at me (like I wasnt there!) and saw around 20 meters farther from where I stand that he picked up this eastern european-looking guy.
A few minutes passed, it happened again. This time with an american (I think). I am quite sure these drivers saw me but they just ignored me because apparently they prefer white men. lol. I dunno maybe because they expect big tips from them? Or the driver saw them first because of their glaring white skin (it was night)?
Eventually I spotted one dropping a passenger and without the driver noticing, I got in the cab. hehehehe.
Burken A'salam aleykum people. Me is back, after a long time of break up with the forum. We had a fight, but now we are friends again.
Anyhoe.. to the mystery of cabs. Me iz comin' to Dubai in one month, inshAllah. I am going to stay for six months, so that it pretty much nice, right?
Yeah.. so anyhoe, my lovely mother has been to UAE some months ago, and she keep tellin' me that if there is one thing I should be careful with, then it is the cabs. And with this, she doesn't mean the traffic chaos of UAE, she means that the driver can - if he finds you as "foreign" - take you to some other place and rape you/[put any kind of violence you wish here], because she read in papers while she was in UAE, that similiar things happened there. Also she says they fool you with cash if they find out you are an European or some (sh1t) like that.
Ok, now I filled this thread with prejudiced "bullsh1t", but how is it with these rumours? Is it true, for one percent or two, or what is it I should think of when taking a cab in UAE? Especielly between Dubai and Ajman.
Wa aleykum a'salam! abarawakijess You hear this kind of stuff on the news all the time. But I take taxi alot for my work as I presently do not have a car, but have never had any problems before. (Knock wood) The only problem I have faced is trying to get a taxi through the RTA number. Sometimes the taxis do not come and other times they are late. But if you just get a taxi from the side of the road, it is fine. Dubai Knight Well if you are that paranoid, you can always walk everywhere? You are pretty safe in the metered official cabs...they stop the meter just before they are about to attack you because they don't get paid for waiting time! What a load of old trash! Cabs in Dubai are safer than any in the world...apart from the accident rate. If you are stupid enough to take an unofficial cab or unmetered taxi or accept a lift from a total stranger...then more fool you. Stick to the rules and you will survive. 8) 8) 8) Knight gezza [quote="Burken"]A'salam aleykum people. Me is back, after a long time of break up with the forum. We had a fight, but now we are friends again.
Anyhoe.. to the mystery of cabs. Me iz comin' to Dubai in one month, inshAllah. I am going to stay for six months, so that it pretty much nice, right?
Yeah.. so anyhoe, my lovely mother has been to UAE some months ago, and she keep tellin' me that if there is one thing I should be careful with, then it is the cabs. And with this, she doesn't mean the traffic chaos of UAE, she means that the driver can - if he finds you as "foreign" - take you to some other place and rape you/[put any kind of violence you wish here], because she read in papers while she was in UAE, that similiar things happened there. Also she says they fool you with cash if they find out you are an European or some (sh1t) like that.
Ok, now I filled this thread with prejudiced "bullsh1t", but how is it with these rumours? Is it true, for one percent or two, or what is it I should think of when taking a cab in UAE? Especielly between Dubai and Ajman.
Wa aleykum a'salam![/quote
Your spelling is terrible gezza
I have the number of a Brilliant taxi driver if you want it. Concord Did your mother visit Dubai or did she get information about taxis in Dubai from the 9/11 conspiracy theories websites? Sure sounds like it. Taxi drivers in Dubai are fine. Better than in all the cities I've taken taxis in the world (which is more than a few). Not a single worry for me (including their driving - I think they are safer drivers than most in Dubai - they drive 12 hrs a day 7 days a week). Dubai Knight Mind you, my computer crashes as often as a Dubai cab... :lol: :lol: :lol: Knight Concord
There are thousands of cabs in Dubai.
Come to think of it. I read the paper daily and there is always some story about some accident and fatalities on the the highway and I can't think of a single story where a taxi was involved :shock: Remarkable.
I would say I have taken at least 300 cab rides in 2 years here (if not more) and it has been fine each time (I've told a few not to use their mobile but...) St.Lucifer U gotta learn to speak Urdu/Hindi or Arabic ..if u wish to travel in cabs.. or u'll learn by yourself listening to the Urdu/Hindi songs and news. Apart from that part and the stink in some cabs.. its pretty cabanywhereelse like

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Dubai Knight The biggest problem I find is the taxi driver who has absolutely no idea where he is going. Many are fresh off the boat and struggle to find their own arses let alone Emirates Towers. It gets really scary when they turn round and say "Sorry, I am new driver!" Does that mean he is new to Dubai...or that he has only just learned to drive!!!! :shock: :shock: :shock: Knight abarawakijess You know, in all my time travelling on Dubai roads (which is not that long mind you), but I am yet to see a taxi involved in one accident. I see alot of the 4 wheel drives in accidents and in dodgy positions on the road though... Burken, please relax. Taxis here are great and most of them don't try to rip you off and just take a tip from the change you are suppose to get back from them like they do in NYC. Just make sure you take the official taxis and not the shady guys sidling up to you on the side of the road and you will be fine. gtmash MOST of the taxis don't stop for brown people, black people, women in abayas, Filipinos, locals, Arabs and people living in traffic-heavy areas. Whatever minority they do pick up will tell you they have no problems getting a taxi here. Dubai Knight
How about green people?
:shock: :shock: :shock:
Knight Burken gezza: Are you for real or what? To the rest; Thank you all for taking your time to give som serious answers. Just one - maybe stupid - question, what is the official cab? How do they look like, or what's the name of 'em? Wa aleykum a'salam. gezza
They have a sighn on the roof says TAXI...
thats a good start. :shock: abarawakijess Burken, The official taxis have a sign on the top that says "Taxi" and the body of the car is painted a light beige/cream colour and they usually have Dubai taxi or Arabia taxi or something similar written on the body. Good luck Burken Thanks. Again, gezza. Do me a favour and don't answer me anywhere else in this forum if you only are going to use your ass as your only so-called "brain". gezza wheres your sense of humor my friend? :lol: ITS A MESSAGE BOARD!
miss_mel there's always the ever "reliable" bus... mel reviewer
Yeah, these cabbies can barely scratch a living with their low salaries, so more often than not, they take western-looking passengers thinking that they would get tips or they can duped them into going the longer route.... Jamal
and dat nigga Danny Glover was trippin allover the news about cab's not stoppin for his blackk ass ... i wonder what he would be on about if he was over here. and he saw em cabs stoppin for em white folk an denyin his niggga asss. ^ian^
He might go all Lethal Weapon an their asses reviewer I can't wait to see Danny Glover getting on this cab.......... :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: C0NC0RD
Does that really happen in Dubai? Specially since most people seem to take cabs from a "Cab Stands". It may be more of a shortage of taxis but then I am naive. reviewer
Yes, it does Concord....these cabbies are mostly if not all in a quota system, at the end of the day they need to have a certain amount to give back their dispatcher and the rest is all theirs...that why they tend to drive for 10-12 hrs. a day just to make a bit of money....they tend to short change customer just to make profit....and they see westerners as prime meat....(no offence meant) C0NC0RD
Have you experienced any of it:
1. If non-western: that they will not pick you up; or
2. If western: that they attempt to short change you.
I've been in hundreds of cab rides in my stay in Dubai and not once I have been ripped-off, nor refused a ride (although I have only hailed a cab on the street a couple of times - I either call ahead or get it from a "cab stand", airport, hotel, mall, etc.).
Maybe is just and "urban legend". reviewer Its true ..it did happen to me...I hailed a taxi from the airport around 3:am and I told the guy in English and Arabic where to go, until I notice that he's taking the wrong way really..then I cursed him in Arabic and swear that I will callthe police if I don't reac h my flat in 10 mins........also I hear genuine stories about Dubai's famous cabbies....Lucky you ..hope you stay that lucky......knock on wood...o :D C0NC0RD
ummm, you can't hail cabs at the hairport. They are at the taxi stand... C0NC0RD
You also have to consider that a taxi driver might have genuinely be lost or missed a turn (we have all done it). Also most taxi drivers in Dubai started out as taxidrivers in Dubai so that one day it was his first day, week, etc. driving a taxi. Someone might say, well they should be trained - it is the same the world over (even if they go thru a "training' course they just need the paper and learn on the job).
Of course there are a few scandlers everywhere but... ^ian^
Always a good way to get people around to your cause..... C0NC0RD
espcially if the guy does not speak arabic. ^ian^
You generally don't need to know Arabic to know that you've been cursed at in it. reviewer
Well the poor cabbie is an arab thats why I gave him a bit of a taser.....Mind you it was 3:00am in the morning...have'nt had sleep...jet lag...don't remember if I was sober then.... :lol: ^ian^
And he may not have slept, been dealing with passengers who were jet lagged, or clearly not sober, for the entire of his shift.
Calling him names isn't going to help you. reviewer
But short changing people doesn't either....now I remember I was sober. then
:oops: ^ian^
I've never been short changed although I have been in a taxi ride to the wrong place which ended in the police being involved. But that's another story.
I have found most taxi drivers to be honest, hardworking, genuine individuals that are doing what they do to support their families, some of which haven't seen their children born.
Yes, you come across a few bad eggs, but that applies in any company. Given the number of taxies I have caught, I think I work with a higher ratio of incompetent people than there are incompetent taxi drivers. reviewer Indeed, they are some few bad cabbies out to think of it; do they do these things out of boredom or home-sickness?.... pinoy1 Well so far I have a 50/50 good experience-bad experience ratio. I'm Filipino btw (i.e., brown). Good experience is when I hail one, get in and tell the driver my destination, no conversations, no audible sighs from the driver when there's a jam, I pay, the driver gives exact change, I get off. Events other than the above is always a bad experience. C0NC0RD Here is a suggestion:
Make Up A Sign on a A4 piece of paper that says
[color=red]I TIP[/color]
And hold it up when hailing a cab - you should have no problems... reviewer Sure will....that would make them line up in front of you..... :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: ^ian^
My sign:
[color=red] I TIP* [/color]
For Drivers who know their way, make polite conversation, do not grunt, give correct change, and in general smell good. reviewer
Love the fine print..esp..the last part....freshener any one..... :lol: reviewer
Love the fine print..esp..the last part....freshener any one..... :lol: gtmash
Ahhh, it's great to be white here. Every time I see off my brown buddy, he has to watch 10 empty taxis pass him by before one stops. And I'm not exaggerating. ^ian^
Everyone should have a brown buddy. Dubai Knight My 'brown buddy' never has any problems getting a cab... But then again, he IS a taxi driver! :lol: :lol: :lol: Knight reviewer But some brown buddies do get cabs as fast if not faster than a whites.... :wink: for other reasons ....yeah.... Dubai Knight
Carring a rocket propelled grenade launcher helps...
8) 8) 8)
Knight reviewer
A :wink: and a :) and another :wink: will do the trick..... Dubai Knight
Winking at cab drivers is not recommended...you might end up being followed around all night by an effeminate guy winking back at you!
:shock: :shock: :wink:
Knight ^ian^
That happened to a friend of mine, but that was in Melbourne. reviewer
:lol: :lol: At least they have the cab all to themselves the whole night :wink: :wink: Dubai Knight
So that's why there are no cabs available after 10.00pm...they are all in the sand car parks in Karama, rockin from side to side!
:shock: :shock: :shock:
Knight pinoy1 ahh.. that solves the mystery ^ian^ If this taxi's a rockin... don't come a knockin! reviewer :lol: :lol: :lol: ....That's some cabbies smells like other than sweat.. Ooops.....so careful when you take your seat on a cabbie....you might slip....on some chute... :lol: :lol: KeithL This is one crazy Taxi discussion :roll: :lol: reviewer
It may sound crazy but mind you it's real and happening in this city..... Burken Ok, I've been in this country for two weeks, and just the first day I faced the stupidy of the cabs. I haven't been to Dubai so much, so I don't really know how it really is there. But in Sharjah, it's a real joke. When I go to work, I have to wear hijaab and look all arabic. My chances to get a taxi with that kind of clothes is like zero. I can wait in half hour or more, and every taxi driver just passes me and shows me he has to go for "praying" or just can't stop. Which is bullshit, cause I know the times of praying. I even attend to take the cab when there is no praying time. When I wear my normal western European clothes, they stop like they never seen a white person in their life. Then they wish I don't know where I wan't to go, so they can slow down the trip and take a longer way. But I usually talk Arabic with them as soon as I enter the damn taxi, just in case. If I talk in English, then they usually try to slow down the whole thing thinking I don't know a sh*t. Maybe I sound to hateful, but seriously.. what the f**k is that all about? Also when I do notice the taxi driver slows down so he can get more money, then he usually yells at me and threating me to get out in the middle of no where. Where the hell did they get the attitude from? craigindubai It's because non-whites are notoriously bad tippers.... Burken Never heard people give them tip. MC Then you're a "non-white" :lol: But it's true cabs here are crap. I've given up on them. In fact the few days I don't have my car I either stay home or rely on my friends. Then again, that is true for most places in the Middle East, or maybe uhh every country in the world :P Burken Wouln't say it's close to this in Sweden. In Sweden they are like heaven, comparing to this. Been to Egypt too, crappy cars, but still not being treated like Sharjah taxis. But as we are speaking about this I have some questions. How easy is it to get a taxi-driver-job? What do they have to do, to get driver-license? Is there any control, does it cost much, how long do they work, do they get kind of good salary, or is like cleaning, etc? Fill me in! MC Aren't you a female? Why would you wanna be a taxi driver? Or did I misunderstand? Anyway I don't know the answers to your questions but this would be my assumption. Getting a taxi-driver job should be easy enough as there aren't too many requirements. Competition may be a problem though. Also I believe the taxi driver's license is the same as a normal license. If someone doesn't have one it may take you 1 month to 1 year to get it. Yes I've heard it take that long for some people. Though they seem to all be Indian. Don't know if it's prejudice or Indians just suck at driving :lol: I think it's a little of both :P It would cost about AED 3500 - 4000 to do it through the Police. As for how long taxis work, I think one told me he worked for 12 hour shifts. Donno how flexible that is. As for the salary, no I don't think it's anything decent, but it would definitely be better than a janitor. Maybe AED 4000 - 5000 a month? Not sure. Burken That would be pretty much anyway. Some work at offices and only get 1500dhs per month. Oh well, those taxi people irritate me so much that I don't know what to do. Yes, I am a female. I was just wondering cause I suddenly got intersted in everything that has to do with this kind of work and people, cause I just want to understand the stupidy of this =) St.Lucifer
Its just prejudice..
k on the topic..People do tip cabbies... I'm not so used to it..I dont really tip them unless i'm drunk :P or the cabby is mannerly..
And I think tipping can be real bad at times. coz
1. its hard on other people who cant afford to tip everytime they get into a cab.
2. Cabbies develop a biased view on the ppl waiting for cabs n tend to pick up only them whiteskins.. :| MC
Yeah true, but I could be wrong, they might be earning a lot less.
Anyway maybe it has to do with driving in the UAE for so long in general. Sometimes I think I'm gonna go crazy with the way people drive here. And they have to go through that each day for 10 - 12 hours. So they will likely be in a bad mood for much of the day. Probably plenty of other reasons too. There was a story last year of a taxi driver who burnt himself to death because his company wouldn't allow him to go visit his family in his home country. Quite disturbing. reviewer
Try reading the whole topic from the start Burken, you might see some answer to your questions....
Tipping taxi drivers is not a norm here....its those tourist who started the tippings which made these poor cabbies assume that tipping is a must irregardless of how crappy their driving is.
Imagine this..these hard-pressed cabbies working in 12 -16 hrs everyday taking 2500 max....living alone in miserable conditions away from theirs wife and children. How would you feel? :shock: craigindubai
I wonder how they possibly get that biased view? St.Lucifer
hmm.. most of the Indians, Pakistanis, Pinoys etc dont tip cabbies.. Atleast abt Indians I can say that coz, a) its not a practise/culture/custom in India b)a lot of them cant afford it c)Regardless of how rich they r .. Indians are skinflints when it comes to tipping. Its seen as.. 'oh s/he's doing is duty. y should one tip him/her', or 'thats what s/he gets paid for'.
And usually people from the western countries tip, as its part of their custom, culture and.. the result is biased treatment from cabbies. craigindubai
Well now we know it's not racism... It's a commercial decision on their behalf. St.Lucifer
Who said it's racism ? eh? reviewer I for one dont give tips to cabbies ;why should I besides I came here to worked my butts off and not to sun- bath.....Each to his own :!: craigindubai
Oh that's right, most taxi drivers are Indian so racism is out of the question.... St.Lucifer Oh! you've seen a lot of world. Is being a cabbie so demeaning? craigindubai I'll ask my father.... But I don't think so. Is tipping them such a heinous crime? Or are they not worthy of your tip? St.Lucifer
Take it how u like it mate. :) Burken I don't see "tip" as normal in western world either. Just saw it in England. Maybe people who are rich or can afford can do it. That doesn't mean every d*mn white person can afford it. I am from Sweden and I live under very poor condition here, so I can't afford give the driver any tip. Therefor I get very pissed off when they try to take hard ways or slow it down to get more money from me. Stupid is just the first name of it. But now I understand the whole thing better. Thanks all for replying! Sheikhmo Dubai Transport is a state of the art, World Class Taxi Service, with well trained and friendly drivers always willing to pick up and deliver any passenger to any destination within Dubai. I have seen lots of people take Taxis and I hear they do a great job. craigindubai And welcome to DF to our new friend from the RTA...... Sheikhmo
You find me a city in the world as large as Dubai or larger that handles the pressure and delivers the job the RTA does? craigindubai
Name any westernised city... At least their phones get answered on Thursday night! reviewer
Yeah, Ive seen a lot of people like you in here with much blabber and all. :lol: :lol: :lol:



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