Muscat – The total number of registered taxis in Oman reached 28,340 this year by the end of July, marking a marginal increase of .09% compared to the same period in 2024, according to the latest data released by National Centre for Statistics and Information.

In a move to modernise the public transport sector, Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology announced integration of all white and orange taxis operating in public spaces with licensed ride-hailing apps effective April 1, 2025. This came following an extension of the original implementation timeline.

The licensed apps approved by the ministry include Oman Taxi, OTaxi, Marhaba, Hala and Tasleem.

Phased rollout of the integration initiative began with taxis at airports. The second phase, launched on November 1, 2023 covered taxis operating at hotels, commercial centres and ports.

The third and final phase – originally scheduled for January 1, 2024 – officially commenced on April 1, 2025. It targets all white and orange taxis operating in public areas across the country.

This initiative, part of the Land Transport Law and its executive regulations, aims to improve services for both drivers and passengers by adopting smart transport solutions. Features offered through the licensed apps include real-time trip tracking, route monitoring and enhanced safety measures, while ensuring user privacy and data security.

The ministry has called on taxi operators and the public to support the smooth implementation of the programme, which is expected to significantly upgrade and modernise Oman’s land transport sector.