Kuwait says taxi fares still lowest in the region

An official from Kuwait’s interior ministry has defended Kuwait’s increase in taxi fares, stating they are still the lowest in the Arabian Gulf.

Acting assistant undersecretary for traffic affairs major general Fahd Al-Shuwaei told reporters yesterday that the decision aimed to set transport prices in line with operation costs, according to Kuwait Times.

He added, that the price increase had been announced ahead of the country’s increase in petrol prices today to prevent drivers from raising fares too high.

Shuwaei inssited taxi drivers in the country use the new tariffs and a metre. Violators can have their vehicle impounded for two months, according to the official.

An awareness campaign is also to be launched to explain the decision and its goals.

The new public taxi fares will be based on distance travelled and range from KD0.150 ($0.50) within Kuwait City to KD0.600 ($2) in Jahra and Ahmadi.

Fares will also vary based on taxi type, with private taxis starting at KD0.500 ($1.66) and charging KD0.150 per kilometre and KD0.050 ($0.17) per waiting minute.

Airport taxis and limousines will range from KD5 ($16.56) to KD35 ($116).

Read: Kuwait prepares for taxi fare increase

The taxi rate increases follow the Kuwaiti cabinets decision to raise petrol prices last month.

From September 1, the price of low octane petrol will increase 41 per cent, high-grade petrol 61 per cent and low-emission petrol 83 per cent.

Read: Kuwait approves 83% petrol price increase