Marhaba taxis to pick guests from 33 top end hotels in Oman

Muscat: Marhaba Taxi cannot take passengers from one and two-star hotels numbering 104 in Muscat, the Ministry of Tourism (MoT) said on Tuesday.
“It can only pick passengers from 33 hotels, which are classified as three, four and five-star hotels,” an official from MoT clarified. Officials said there are 137 hotels in Muscat, of which 104 hotels are classified as one or two-star hotels.
Yousuf Al Hooti, project manager for Marhaba taxi also confirmed that they will be operating only in three, four and five-star hotels in Muscat. “In the rest of the hotels, the traditional white and orange taxis can operate.”
Announcing the details of the public transport strategy that will continue into 2025, the Minister of Transport and Communications, Dr. Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Futaisi had recently said that Mwasalat and Marhaba will only be allowed to operate in hotels, airport and commercial complexes.
He said there would be no limit imposed on the vehicles that they could operate in areas where they could work, as long as those who joined are current taxi drivers.
Al Hooti said Marhaba taxis can put up advertisements in their cars where the driver and the company can share the profit. “50 per cent of advertising revenue from the doors of the taxis would go to the taxi driver, and 50 per cent would go to the company,” MoT has said.
All cabs must have a meter installed, that would be checked every six months. “Drivers must keep the certification of the meter in their vehicle,” it added.
Fares for the Marhaba Taxi will begin from OMR3 at the hotel premises.
The company plans to run 600 taxis in Oman, and if that number is not reached by the launch of the project, then Marhaba may contract with other taxi drivers to cover the shortage. The project currently had 150 taxi drivers in phase one, of which 113 have completed registration.