By VM Sathish www.emirates247.com
Al Ayadi Al Ameena Service by lady cabbies will be available for kids under 10 studying in Dubai schools on monthly payment
Dubai Taxi has pitched in to contribute its services to ensure safety of school children in the wake of recent cases where bus employees have been accused of inappropriate behaviour.
The transport company has started a student pick-up service called ‘Al Ayadi Al Ameena’, wherein lady drivers will transport students to and from schools in Dubai. Currently, the servce is provided to six Emirati families on a trial basis. The service will be rolled out to all residents soon with a monthly payment option, said a top official of Dubai Taxi.
“We are not making any money from this, rather losing money because there is only one trip per day. We have done a feasibility study. Specially trained lady drivers will pick-up and drop students under 10 years. They will be given special training to ensure children’s safety,” Yousuf Al Ali, Director, Fleet Operations, Dubai Taxi, told ‘Emirates 24|7’.
“Some of the lady drivers will be given special training for the Al Ayadi Al Ameena service. He did not disclose the details of the monthly charges for the student pick up service, but added once the scheme operates on a larger scale, it will become commercially feasible.
The pink taxi is popular among families, said Ali. Demand for lady drivers is increasing. Currently there are about 82 of them from various nationalities – Arab nationals, Africans and Filipinas, he added.
Dubai Taxi has more than 7,500 drivers (male and female).
Emirates Transport, one of the major school bus operators in the UAE, is also working with the Ministry of Interior to follow safety tips for drivers and students.
