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Asif Iqbal
Doha
With the ride-hailing taxi app services gaining popularity in the country, customers are further set to gain with an increase in competition between the taxi app services currently operating in Qatar.
"The competition between ride-hailing firms is getting stiffer with taxi app frims trying to lure in riders with lucrative deals, like free rides and discounted fares.
"The recent announcement made by Careem to reduce fares by 20 percent is likely to increase competition between the ride-hailing firms," an official of Uber told Qatar Tribune.
The Uber official said customers in Qatar are already getting very competitive fares from his company. However, he said Uber will keep a close eye on the market requirements and will make necessary adjustments to provide affordable and reliable transportation.
Mohamed Naeem, a driver working for Uber, said,"The demand for app taxi services in the country is growing. More families are using the services as they feel more secure with us and also because of the high-standards we maintain."
Naeem said the other company has decided to reduce fares.
"This could be the beginning of an intense competition," he said.
Recently, Careem announced it is slashing fares for its customers in Doha and Al Wakrah.
The taxi app operator said that fares have been slashed by up to 20 percent with rides starting at as little as QR10.
According to the company, for a short trip with the company's value focused car type 'GO', from Sheraton Hotel to Souq Waqif, the fare will drop from QR17 to QR13. Similarly, a short trip with the GO+, the firm's comfort-focused car type, will drop from QR24 to QR19.
"Savings on longer trips are even more attractive. For a ride with GO from The Pearl to The Museum of Islamic Art (MIA), the fare will drop from QR32 to QR26, while the same journey with the GO+ the fare will drop from QR40 to QR32," the company said in a statement.
Shamsheer, a Careem driver, said the reduction of fares by his company is a move in the right direction.
Commenting on the new pricing model, General Manager of Careem in the GCC, Khaled Nuseibeh, said,"By making our services more affordable, we will be able to open up our platform to a wider customer base and provide more business for our hard working captains (drivers)."
"This is an exciting time for Careem in Qatar. With our extensive use of tailored tech for the region including smart dispatching and advanced fleet management services, we plan to become an integral part of the lives of everyday people and a brand that they can trust and rely on," added Nuseibeh,
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22/05/2018
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