Are you a taxi driver in Dubai? If you are, this is one of the best times to be one! But in all probability you aren’t, but you should know that the ‘cabbies’ in Dubai just got a whole lot cooler.

First of all, the taxi scene is pretty well organized and is presided over by the Dubai Taxi Corporation. The corporation is responsible for the 3,504 vehicles that are distributed among various services as Airport Taxi, Hatta Taxi, Ladies Taxi, public taxi and In-Safe Hands service and people with special needs taxi with Fleet operation proficiency shows 96.39 per cent during the first half of 2013.

In collaboration with the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM), the Dubai Taxi Corp has launched the tourist taxi project. The project aims at training taxi drivers to double as tourist guides.

“The drivers are currently getting trained under the project and some 1,590 of them are already graduates of the course.”

Mohammed Yousif Saleh,

Director of Fleet Operations for the Dubai Taxi Corporation

The director also added that a number of services, facilities and traveler initiatives were launched during the first half of 2013, and new services are being developed, including the “In-Safe Hands service” and “VIP vehicle service.”

The drivers are currently getting trained under the project and some 1,590 of them are already graduates of the course. Taxi drivers often work as informal tour guides in many countries including India, but these kinds of courses will give drivers an advantage not only in terms of additional profit but also with securing repeat business from clients and improving customer service. A happy customer and an increase in profit; it’s a win-win situation.

A similar programme in India would definitely do a lot of good. What do you think? Let us know in the comments section.