Illegal private taxis thriving in Qatar

Private taxis operating illegally in Qatar are thriving thanks to higher demand and due to a decision by a taxi company to raise its minimum fare, a local daily said. The private service was launched after several foreigners converted their cars into illegal taxis to take advantage of a shortage of taxis and make money. It has boomed in recent weeks after Karwa, the operating taxi company, raised its minimum fares from QR4 to QR10. The illegal taxis can now be seen seeking customers outside the arrival terminal of the Doha International Airport, even though there is no dearth of registered cabs. However, the private taxis are gaining in popularity by offering rates that low and middle-income people particularly find attractive, The Peninsula reported on Sunday. Article continues below The modus operandi adopted by the illegal cabbies is that they first convince you that their rates are attractive as compared to those of Karwa, the taxi company, whose minimum fare starts from QR25 for airport service. "They, then, tell you where exactly in the parking lot of the airport their cars are parked and ask you to follow them a little later so that Karwa people do not suspect," the daily said. As for the illegal taxis plying on Doha roads, many people have become so reliant on them that they keep mobile phone numbers of the shady operators and call them whenever they need their service. However, Qatari and Arab women generally remain wary and find it difficult to trust the illegal cabbies that can be seen lurking around major shopping complexes to solicit customers, especially during weekends. According to community sources, since it is hard to verify the credentials of a private cabbie, Qatari and Arab women commuting alone mostly prefer Karwa taxis.