Dubai Taxi to recruit 6,000 Bangladeshi drivers, interview begins tomorrow
SF: 1,500 drivers to be hired in initial phase; Dhaka calls for migration cost cut
The Dubai Taxi Company is set to recruit 6,000 Bangladeshi drivers this year, with the initial screening and selection process beginning tomorrow (18 May).
A delegation from Dubai Taxi Company PJSC discussed the recruitment plan today (17 May) during a courtesy call on Expatriates' Welfare and Overseas Employment Minister Ariful Haque Choudhury at the ministry office, according to a press release.
Led by its Director Nasser Mohammad Alhaj Mudhaffar, the delegation informed the minister that a screening and interview process for eligible Bangladeshi drivers will begin from tomorrow (18 May) at the Bangladesh-Korea Technical Training Centre.
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In the current phase, 1,500 drivers will be selected for the job, while the remaining recruitment will be completed throughout the year.
Three Bangladeshi recruiting agencies—Al Anas Overseas, VIP Global and M Bahar Overseas—have been authorised to facilitate the hiring process.
Md Shofiqul Islam, proprietor of Al Anas Overseas, was also present at the meeting.
Kamal Islam, CEO of Al Anas Overseas, said, "Drivers will earn a 35% commission per ride, with monthly earnings ranging between 2,500 and 4,000 UAE dirhams, potentially exceeding Tk100,000 depending on experience and workload."
He added that applicants must be able to communicate in English and will be shortlisted through direct interviews conducted by Dubai Taxi Company representatives after registration with the agency. The company has already sent around 3,000 drivers to Dubai since 2017.
Beyond drivers, the delegation also expressed interest in recruiting Bangladeshi workers as cleaners, technicians and mechanics, and sought support from the overseas employment ministry to expand the initiative.
Dhaka urges to cap migration cost at Tk1 lakh
During the meeting, State Minister Nurul Haque Nur urged that migration costs be reduced to Tk100,000, noting that workers currently pay at least Tk350,000 to secure such jobs. "These workers are extremely poor and hardworking people who often arrange this money through great hardship or by taking loans."
He therefore made a special request to cap the migration cost at Tk1 lakh, considering the workers' financial capacity.
According to official figures cited in the meeting, around 15,000 workers from 27 countries are employed as taxi and limousine drivers at Dubai Taxi Company, with Bangladeshis forming the largest group at about 8,000.
The delegation noted that Bangladeshi workers are preferred due to their strong work ethic, and also highlighted the growing presence of Bangladeshi women drivers at Dubai Airport.
Minister Arifur Haque Choudhury thanked the Dubai delegation and expressed appreciation for the recruitment of skilled drivers from Bangladesh.
He also expressed hope that this recruitment trend would continue in the future.
The overseas employment minister further requested the company to ensure that workers receive salaries and allowances during their training period after arriving in Dubai.
At the same time, he called for broader recruitment of Bangladeshi professionals, including doctors and nurses, in addition to drivers.
Established in 1994 and operational since 1995, Dubai Taxi Company PJSC has grown from a fleet of 221 taxis to a diversified mobility provider.
It currently holds around 45% of Dubai's taxi market and operates more than 10,000 vehicles, including about 6,000 taxis, alongside limousine, bus and last-mile delivery services
