UPDATEAcquisition will add 2,700 vehicles and expand company’s UAE market shareLast updated: May 13, 2026 | 16:332 MIN READDubai Taxi to acquire National Taxi, a well-established and high-quality operator founded in 2000 and operating approximately 2,500 licensed plates and a fleet of over 2,700 vehicles across Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Al Ain. Dubai Media Office The acquisition, expected to close in the third quarter of 2026 pending regulatory approvals, will strengthen Dubai Taxi’s dominance in Dubai while giving it a major entry into Abu Dhabi’s taxi market.National Taxi operates across Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Al Ain, managing around 2,500 licensed taxi plates and a fleet of more than 2,700 vehicles.Once the deal is completed, Dubai Taxi’s market share in Dubai is expected to rise from 47 per cent to around 59 per cent. The company will also gain an estimated 12 per cent market share in Abu Dhabi.The transaction will be funded through new bank debt facilities, with Dubai Taxi saying no new shares will be issued as part of the acquisition.Committed to growth National Taxi generated Dh774 million in net revenue, Dh183 million in EBITDA and Dh101 million in net profit in the year ended July 31, 2025, according to figures released by Dubai Taxi.The company completed 25.4 million trips during the same period and operated at a fleet utilisation rate of 98 per cent.Dubai Taxi said the acquisition would increase its operational scale materially. The combined business is expected to operate more than 14,000 vehicles and handle around 78 million trips annually across the UAE.National Taxi currently holds 1,734 licensed taxi plates in Dubai and 800 in Abu Dhabi and Al Ain. Taxi plate issuance in both emirates is tightly regulated, creating high barriers to entry for new operators.What the deal entails Dubai Taxi said the acquisition is expected to be earnings accretive from the first full year of ownership, with additional gains anticipated through procurement savings, centralised maintenance and back-office consolidation.The company also said it plans to retain the National Taxi brand after the acquisition while partially integrating operations. Customer-facing services will continue under the existing brand, while finance, procurement and administrative functions will be consolidated.The deal will require approvals from Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) and Abu Dhabi’s Integrated Transport Centre (ITC).Commenting on the transaction, DTC Group Chairman Abdul Muhsen Ibrahim Kalbat said the acquisition would strengthen the company’s position in Dubai and establish a “meaningful presence” in Abu Dhabi.DTC Group CEO Mansoor Rahma Alfalasi said the transaction had been structured without equity dilution and aligned with the company’s long-term growth strategy.National Taxi Managing Director Toufic Mitri said the company had attracted interest from investors across North America, Europe, the Middle East and Central Asia before selecting Dubai Taxi’s proposal.Dubai Taxi also added 600 new taxi plates (effective July 2026), expanding its EV fleet, strengthening e-hailing partnerships with Bolt and Zed, and launching driverless services. Despite a slow March 2026, the company saw a strong start to the year with a 10 per cent revenue increase in January and February. In 2025, taxis and limousines completed over 53 million trips.Dhanusha is a Chief Reporter at Gulf News in Dubai, with her finger firmly on the pulse of UAE, regional, and global aviation. She dives deep into how airlines and airports operate, expand, and embrace the latest tech.