Dubai Taxi Roof Colours: What All 7 Mean
All Dubai taxis are white vehicles with coloured roofs. The roof colour identifies the operating franchise. Every franchise uses the same RTA-regulated metered fare - the colour makes no difference to your price, but it does identify the company if you need to file a complaint or retrieve a lost item.
The largest Dubai taxi operator, listed on the Dubai Financial Market since December 2023 with the Government of Dubai as majority shareholder. When people say "red taxi Dubai" they mean a DTC vehicle. Operates the highest volume of trips in the emirate.
Established 2005. Arabia Taxi is specifically known for its eco-friendly fleet and added 269 Tesla Model 3 vehicles in April 2023. One of the most modern fleets among Dubai taxi companies.
Established 2000 and owned by Dubai Taxi Company since July 2026. Runs more than 2,700 vehicles across Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Al Ain.
A smaller RTA franchise operator. Uses standard RTA metered rates like all other Dubai taxi companies.
The first franchised taxi company in Dubai (2000), now trading as Kabi under the Al Ghurair group. Its blue roofs are being replaced by purple with no end date announced, so both colours are on the road.
Operated by DTC with female drivers exclusively. Available for women passengers and families. Bookable through the standard Hala/Careem apps.
The new livery of Kabi, the renamed Cars Taxi. Kabi is a street-hail franchise like the others, not a booking app, and ran 3,680 Dubai taxis in September 2025.
The Green Taxi Dubai: Arabia Taxi and the Tesla Fleet
The "green taxi" in Dubai refers to Arabia Taxi - the franchise with green-roofed vehicles. The green colour is not a separate taxi tier or eco-label; it simply identifies Arabia Taxi as the operator.
Arabia Taxi earned its green reputation through its fleet investment. In April 2023, it signed an exclusive deal to add 269 Tesla Model 3 vehicles to its standard taxi fleet - accessible at normal RTA metered rates. Before this, Arabia Taxi already operated hybrid vehicles, consistent with the RTA's push to decarbonise the Dubai taxi fleet.
The Tesla Model 3 taxis operate like any Dubai taxi: you book via Hala, Careem, or street hail, and pay the standard RTA meter. There is no premium surcharge for requesting an electric vehicle - availability depends on location and demand.
New Taxis in Dubai 2026: The RTA Electrification Plan
The RTA launched an ambitious fleet modernisation programme in 2023 with the goal of converting 100% of the Dubai taxi fleet to hybrid, electric, or hydrogen vehicles by 2027 - replacing approximately 10% of the fleet each year. Progress as of 2024-2025:
In late 2024, the RTA also announced enhanced service standards - driver training, vehicle cleanliness, uniform requirements, and dedicated taxi lane expansion (13 km of new priority corridors across 6 road sections). Dubai's taxi fleet carried a significant share of the emirate's 802 million annual public transport riders in 2025.
Dubai Taxi Car Models: What Cars Are Used
Regardless of the roof colour, Dubai taxis are drawn from a shared pool of vehicle models approved by the RTA. The most common Dubai taxi car name people ask about is the Toyota Camry - the Camry Hybrid now makes up a large part of the standard fleet thanks to its fuel economy, low running cost, and strong resale value. Below are the models you are most likely to be picked up in, grouped by category.
| Category | Common models | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Standard sedan | Toyota Camry (Hybrid) | The most common Dubai taxi; the Camry Hybrid dominates the current fleet. |
| Everyday sedan | Toyota Corolla, Nissan Altima | Fuel-efficient saloons used widely across all franchise operators. |
| Entry-level sedan | Nissan Sunny | A common budget saloon, easy to maintain and low on fuel. |
| Also in rotation | Hyundai Sonata, Kia Optima | Additional sedans that appear across several companies. |
| Premium / limo | Lexus ES | Arrives on higher Hala and Careem tiers at premium rates. |
| Family / 7-seater | Toyota Hiace and minivans | Larger vehicles for groups and extra luggage. |
| Electric | Tesla Model 3, BYD sedans | Tesla via Arabia Taxi; BYD sedans added to the DTC electric fleet. |
The line-up keeps shifting toward hybrid and electric models under the RTA plan. From 2026, Dubai also introduces a purpose-built "Iconic Taxi" based on the Kia Carnival, revealed at GITEX 2025, which will gradually join the fleet alongside the sedans above. Whichever model turns up, the fare is the same RTA meter - the car itself does not change the price.
Dubai Taxi Companies: The Main Operators
Dubai's street taxis are run by a small group of RTA-licensed companies rather than one single provider. Five operators handle the bulk of standard trips, each tied to a roof colour. All of them use the same white vehicles, the same meter, and the same RTA tariff - the company only matters for lost-property claims, complaints, or if you have a preference for a particular fleet.
| Company | Roof colour | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Dubai Taxi Corporation (DTC) | Red | The largest operator, with about 59% of the market after buying National Taxi in July 2026. Also runs the pink Women's Taxi. |
| National Taxi | Yellow | Launched in 2000; owned by DTC since July 2026. |
| Kabi (formerly Cars Taxi) | Blue, moving to purple | The first franchisee (2000), owned by Al Ghurair; 3,680 Dubai taxis in September 2025. |
| Arabia Taxi | Green | Known for its eco fleet; added 269 Tesla Model 3 cars in 2023. |
| Metro Taxi | Orange | Galadari group franchise and the smallest fleet: 713 taxis in mid-2023. |
If you search for "red taxi Dubai," this is the operator you are looking at: the red roof belongs to Dubai Taxi Corporation, the listed company that runs the largest fleet in the emirate. There is no separate brand called "Red Taxi" - red is simply the DTC roof colour, and because DTC runs the biggest fleet, its red-roofed cars are the ones most visitors see first. For a fuller breakdown of every roof colour, see our Dubai Taxi Colours Guide, and for a premium sedan alternative see Lexus Taxi Dubai. Two of the smaller franchises have their own pages too: the orange-roof Metro Taxi fleet, and Cars Taxi, now trading as Kabi, whose blue roofs are turning purple.
Dubai Taxi vs. Private Chauffeur: Key Differences
The seven RTA taxi types described above all operate within the same regulatory framework - metered fares, on-demand booking, and standardised vehicles. A private chauffeur service sits outside this framework and offers a fundamentally different experience for certain journey types.
| Dubai RTA Taxi | Gulf Chauffeur | |
|---|---|---|
| Booking | On-demand / app | Pre-booked, confirmed time |
| Pricing | Metered (surge possible via apps) | Fixed price agreed before travel |
| Coverage | Dubai and limited intercity | All UAE, fixed price intercity |
| Vehicle | Sedan (various models) | GMC Yukon or Mercedes-Benz Vito |
| Advance scheduling | Limited | Pre-booked days/weeks ahead |
| Night availability | Subject to fleet supply | Confirmed pickup, guaranteed arrival |
When to Choose a Private Chauffeur Over a Dubai Taxi
- Airport transfers with a fixed flight time - meters and surge pricing do not accommodate flight schedules.
- Intercity routes - Dubai to Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah. RTA taxis can do these routes but cannot pick up for the return, creating driver reluctance and metered uncertainty on long trips.
- Full-day hire - a driver for multiple stops across an entire day is more efficient as hourly hire than repeated app bookings.
- Group travel - GMC Yukon seats 6 to 7 with luggage; no need to split across two taxis and two meters.
Related: Private Driver vs Taxi Dubai - Dubai Taxi Colours Guide - UAE Taxi Fare Guide - Lexus Taxi Dubai
Sources
- Dubai Taxi service - Dubai Taxi Company
- Dubai Taxi Company and Kabi by Al Ghurair join forces - Dubai Taxi Company
- DTC completes the acquisition of National Taxi (press release, 8 July 2026) - Dubai Financial Market disclosure
- Metro Taxi - I&M Galadari Group
- Goodbye blue roofs: Dubai taxis get a purple makeover - ArabWheels
Fares, numbers and rules change. Check the official source before you rely on a figure.