Ride-sharing technology companies Uber and Careem will have to register their apps and adhere to new regulations to operate in Abu Dhabi.
Quoting Mohammed Darwish Al Qamzi, general manager of the Centre for Regulation of Transport by Hire Cars (TransAd), Reuters on Monday said that the new regulations will come "very soon".
According to the new regulations, apps like Uber and Careem must only work with luxury hire companies, must strictly follow their pricing schemes, and must also provide a list of drivers and cars to Transad, the Reuters report said.
"This will help us to control the market easier by blocking any unregulated application with us," he told Reuters, adding that there had been a "black market, many illegal drivers doing part-time work, over-charging customers and not following regulations."
Reuters noted that a spokesman for Careem denied any wrongdoing by the company or its hired drivers.
"We are not against the apps services," Qamzi told Reuters. "It is the choice of the people. But we need to make sure the cars are safe, drivers are genuine and the safety of customers is first."
In August, Careem and Uber both suspended service in the Capital after police multiple drivers and seized a number of vehicles. Careem has since re-started its services, but Uber has yet to resume services, while it awaited clarification from local authorities.
