The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has announced revised taxi fares in Dubai, introducing new peak-hour rates and booking fees for rides booked through smart apps. The new structure does not apply to taxis hailed directly on the road.

Under the new system, the minimum fare has increased from Dh12 to Dh13, with rates now varying based on the day of the week and time of travel.

Weekday Peak Hours (Monday–Thursday)

• Peak hours: 8:00–9:59 a.m. and 4:00–7:59 p.m.
• Flagfall: Dh5 at trip start
• Peak-hour surcharge: Dh7.5
• Outside peak hours: Dh5 flagfall, Dh4 surcharge
• Night (10:00 p.m.–5:59 a.m.): Dh5.5 flagfall, Dh4.5 surcharge

Friday Rates

• Peak hours: 8:00–9:59 a.m. and 4:00–9:59 p.m.
• Night flagfall (10:00–11:59 p.m.): Dh5.5
• Weekend Rates (Saturday–Sunday)
• Peak hours: 4:00–9:59 p.m. and 10:00–11:59 p.m.
• Flagfall: Dh5 during first slot, Dh5.5 during second slot plus Dh7.5 surcharge
• Outside peak hours: Dh5 flagfall, Dh4 surcharge
• Night (midnight–5:59 a.m.): Dh5.5 flagfall, Dh4.5 surcharge

Why Taxi Fares Fluctuate

These fare changes are part of Dubai’s dynamic pricing system, which adjusts fares according to demand and traffic conditions. During rush hours or heavy congestion, fares increase temporarily to cover additional time and fuel costs. When demand is lower, prices return to standard rates.

Dynamic pricing isn’t new to Dubai taxi fares have long been influenced by factors such as vehicle type, pick-up location, trip duration, and distance.

Currently, the standard minimum fare for app-booked rides is Dh13, with a per-kilometer rate of Dh1.97. Airport taxis start at Dh25, while road-hailed taxis have variable flag-down rates ranging from Dh5 during off-peak hours to Dh9 during peak times.

Broader Dynamic Pricing in Dubai

• Similar flexible pricing models are being applied across other city services:
• Parking fees now vary by location, time, and demand to reduce congestion.
  Salik tolls have adopted dynamic rates since January 31, with charges fluctuating throughout the day—Dh6 during morning (6–10 a.m.) and evening (4–8 p.m.) peaks, and Dh4 during off-peak hours (10 a.m.–4 p.m., 8 p.m.–1 a.m.). On Sundays, tolls remain Dh4 all day and are free from 1 a.m. to 6 a.m.

Previous Fare Adjustment

The last fare revision occurred in January 2024, when the RTA temporarily increased the flag-down rate to Dh20 in certain pick-up zones during major events such as Expo City, Global Village, and Dubai World Trade Centre exhibitions. On regular days, the standard starting fare returned to Dh12.

The new fare structure continues Dubai’s approach of balancing affordability, efficiency, and demand management across its growing transport network.

Typhoon Dolphin brought torrential rain to Shanghai on Monday, August 10, 2026, flooding roads and commercial areas and severely disrupting air travel in the city.

The weather system forced Shanghai’s two airports to cancel a combined 943 flights, while their overall passenger capacity was reduced by nearly 40%.

The disruption followed Dolphin’s landfall in Zhejiang province on Sunday evening. The typhoon struck areas south and west of Shanghai with maximum sustained winds of 151 kilometres per hour near its centre.

Dolphin later weakened into a tropical storm, but its remaining rain bands continued to bring heavy precipitation across large parts of eastern China.

Shanghai, the country’s second-most populous city, experienced widespread flooding, including in several major commercial districts.

China Eastern Airlines said it was working to gradually restore flights to Shanghai, Zhejiang and other affected destinations as weather conditions improve.

Source: Asia News Network

Thousands of WestJet cabin crew members began strike action on Aug. 2 after nearly 11 months of contract negotiations failed to result in a new labor agreement, triggering widespread disruptions across the airline's network.

The industrial action involves around 4,400 flight attendants represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 8125. The strike officially started after talks between the union and the airline ended without a new collective agreement.

The labor dispute has already forced WestJet to cancel more than 300 flights, affecting travel plans across its domestic and international routes.

Ahead of the strike, the airline had begun grounding portions of its Boeing 737 fleet as a precautionary measure to minimize operational disruption and reduce the risk of leaving passengers and aircraft stranded during the work stoppage.

Source: Aero Time

Oman Air has warned passengers of potential delays on selected flights following temporary airspace restrictions and exceptional operating conditions that have disrupted aircraft movements across parts of its network.

In a travel advisory issued on Saturday, the national carrier said the operational challenges had affected flight schedules and that its teams were working continuously to minimise disruption, maintain services, and restore normal operations as quickly as possible.

The airline did not identify the routes impacted by the restrictions or provide a timeline for when normal schedules are expected to resume.

Oman Air said passengers affected by schedule changes will be notified directly via WhatsApp, email, or SMS, provided their booking records contain current contact details.

To reduce the impact on travel plans, the airline added that it may rebook eligible passengers on flights operated by other carriers where suitable alternatives are available.

Source: Gulf News

Global commercial aviation reached a new milestone on July 23, with flight-tracking platform Flightradar24 recording 153,359 commercial flights in a single day, the highest daily total in the platform's history.

The record comes despite recent signs of weaker passenger demand, softer ticket sales and disruptions caused by conflict in the Middle East, highlighting the resilience of airline operations during the peak Northern Hemisphere summer travel season.

The milestone reflects a contrast within the aviation industry, where airlines continue to operate extensive summer schedules even as demand has weakened in some major markets.

Industry observers say the record was driven by peak holiday travel, with carriers deploying maximum capacity to meet seasonal demand. Many airlines, including major U.S. operators, have maintained record summer schedules as travellers continue to prioritise leisure travel despite economic uncertainty and higher travel costs.

Earlier this month, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) reported that global passenger demand fell 2.2% year-on-year in May, marking a second consecutive monthly decline. Domestic traffic dropped 3.1%, with demand down 1.9% in the United States and 6.2% in China's domestic market.

IATA also reported weaker forward ticket sales for the second half of 2026, signalling a more cautious outlook for the industry later in the year.

Analysts noted that flight activity and passenger demand do not always move in tandem, as airlines can maintain high flight frequencies through larger schedules and pricing strategies designed to stimulate demand.

According to IATA, the May slowdown was largely driven by the conflict in the Middle East, where traffic among regional airlines declined 28.4%. Excluding the region, global passenger demand increased 0.7% year-on-year, indicating that the weakness was concentrated rather than widespread.

Despite ongoing challenges, including elevated fuel prices and geopolitical uncertainty, the record number of daily flights underscores the continued strength of global airline operations during the summer travel season.

Source: Newsweek