Muscat – Ministry of Transport, Communications and Information Technology has cautioned companies operating licensed smart applications for taxi services against altering fares without prior approval.

In a statement, the ministry reiterated that all operators must adhere to Ministerial Decision No 195/2018, which sets the official fare structure for public taxis in Oman. Any modification of fare without formal consent from the ministry constitutes a violation of regulations and will result in legal action against offenders.

According to data from the National Centre for Statistics and Information, the number of registered taxis in Oman was 28,307 at the end of March 2025 – up 1.1% compared to the same period in 2024.

The ministry has been working to modernise the public transport system through integration of traditional white and orange taxis with licensed ride-hailing apps. This integration – in effect from April 1, 2025 – follows the completion of a phased rollout that began with airport taxis and later expanded to those operating at hotels, commercial centres and ports.

Approved ride-hailing platforms include Oman Taxi, OTaxi, Marhaba, Hala and Tasleem, all operating under the Aber platform.