DTC Expands Bolt Partnership with 6,000+ New Taxis
In a significant advancement for urban mobility in the United Arab Emirates, Dubai Taxi Company (DTC) and its global ride-hailing partner, Bolt, have announced a major expansion of their strategic partnership aimed at revolutionizing smart transportation across the emirate. This bold initiative marks a critical milestone in the digital transformation of Dubai’s public transport sector, with over 6,000 Dubai Taxi Company vehicles, including specialized fleets such as the People of Determination Taxis and Ladies and Family Taxis (also known as Pink Taxis), now fully integrated into the Bolt app platform.
This expansion comes at a pivotal time for Dubai as it continues to invest in innovative infrastructure, smart city technologies, and digital-first services that cater to the needs of its rapidly growing population and dynamic tourist influx. By offering DTC’s fleet through the Bolt platform, the collaboration significantly boosts accessibility, reliability, and convenience for residents, commuters, and visitors alike—delivering a seamless, tech-enabled mobility experience.
Launch Offer to Encourage Adoption
To celebrate this transformative partnership and encourage widespread adoption among users, Bolt has introduced a special promotional campaign. New riders using the Bolt app to book Dubai Taxis will receive 30% cashback on their first three taxi rides, a move designed to offer additional value while familiarizing users with the enhanced digital booking experience. Additionally, Bolt’s hallmark “no surge pricing” policy remains in effect, ensuring users benefit from fair and predictable fares regardless of demand peaks—a common concern in the ride-hailing industry.
This introductory offer underscores Bolt’s customer-first approach and commitment to accessible pricing structures that cater to all socioeconomic groups in Dubai’s diverse population.
Digital Mobility at the Core of Dubai’s Vision
Dubai’s government has been at the forefront of driving digital transformation across public services. One of its strategic objectives is to transition 80% of taxi bookings to digital platforms in the coming years, in line with the city’s Smart Dubai and sustainability strategies. The integration of DTC’s extensive taxi fleet into Bolt’s app is a major stride toward this objective, offering real-time digital booking capabilities and reducing the dependency on street hails or call-in bookings.
For passengers, this means enhanced ease of access, shorter wait times, and improved travel planning. For the city, it translates to better traffic flow data, reduced environmental impact, and an ability to further streamline transport systems through advanced analytics.
Enhancing the Rider Experience with Bolt’s Technology
Bolt, which has grown into one of the most prominent names in shared mobility globally, brings a suite of advanced digital tools and features to the partnership. The Bolt app is designed with the user in mind and incorporates several key differentiators that elevate the taxi booking experience beyond traditional standards:
- Proprietary Mapping and Routing Algorithms: This ensures that drivers follow the most accurate and efficient routes, reducing travel times and enhancing punctuality.
- Safety Features: The app includes an emergency SOS button, real-time ride tracking, and ride-sharing details that users can send to family or friends for peace of mind.
- Driver Score and Rating System: A transparent feedback mechanism helps maintain service quality by recognizing high-performing drivers and encouraging continuous improvement.
These features not only prioritize customer satisfaction and safety but also contribute to building a more accountable and professional driver community.
Unlocking New Market Opportunities
This partnership is not just a step forward for public convenience—it also opens up significant commercial and strategic potential. The Dubai taxi and e-hailing market is currently estimated at AED 6 billion, and Bolt’s involvement offers Dubai Taxi Company an opportunity to tap deeper into this lucrative and rapidly evolving space. By digitizing its operations and expanding its reach, DTC is well-positioned to capture a larger share of the market while improving operational efficiency and customer engagement.
This development is a central component of Dubai Taxi Company’s strategic roadmap for 2025–2029, which aims to solidify DTC’s leadership in the UAE’s transportation sector. As part of this strategy, DTC is committed to becoming a regional benchmark in smart and sustainable mobility solutions, and its collaboration with Bolt is a key pillar of this vision.
Statements from Leadership
Ammar Al Braiki, Chief Operations Officer of Dubai Taxi Company, emphasized the significance of the partnership, saying:
“The integration of over 6,000 DTC vehicles onto the Bolt app represents a major step toward realizing our vision of creating the UAE’s largest e-hailing platform. This milestone underscores our commitment to enhancing and expanding digital transportation services, reflecting both innovation and our shared goal of offering greater convenience and efficiency for users across the emirate.”
He also highlighted the broader implications for the UAE’s smart mobility landscape, adding:
we envision Bolt’s reach expanding beyond Dubai into other emirates and verticals. This aligns seamlessly with our mission to support Dubai’s vision of a smart, sustainable city, fostering innovation and environmental responsibility in every step we take.”
GJ Kistemaker, Vice President of Partner Markets, Business Development, and MENA at Bolt, also shared his enthusiasm for the deepening partnership:
“We are proud to strengthen our partnership with Dubai Taxi Company as we continue expanding Bolt’s footprint across the region. This collaboration is a testament to our shared commitment to innovation, customer-centricity, and delivering efficient, tech-enabled mobility solutions. By integrating DTC’s iconic taxi fleet onto the Bolt platform, we are making transportation more accessible, reliable, and seamless for everyone in Dubai.”
He further emphasized the importance of local partnerships:
“We thank DTC for their trust and look forward to driving meaningful impact together as we support the emirate’s smart city ambitions.”
Future Outlook
The Dubai Taxi–Bolt partnership exemplifies how public-private collaborations can accelerate urban transformation and reshape essential services to meet the demands of the digital age. As Dubai continues its march toward becoming one of the world’s most connected and sustainable cities, investments in smart mobility solutions like this one will play a pivotal role in reducing emissions, easing congestion, and providing equitable access to safe, efficient transportation.
Moreover, with Bolt’s ongoing expansion plans, the success of this initiative in Dubai could serve as a blueprint for further collaborations across other emirates and potentially even wider regional markets.
Getting Started with Bolt
Travelers and residents can begin benefiting from this new offering by downloading the Bolt app, available for free on iOS and Android devices. With a few taps, users can access DTC’s trusted taxi services, track their rides in real time, and enjoy the comfort and reliability of digitally booked transportation—all while earning cashback on their initial rides.
As DTC and Bolt continue to innovate and expand, the future of transportation in Dubai looks more connected, sustainable, and rider-centric than ever before.