DTC partnered with the global ride-hailing leader Bolt and Baidu’s Apollo Go. Dubai Taxi Company’s acquisition of the National Taxi is set to change how the ground transport operates, not only in Dubai but across the UAE. This was preceded on May 13, when DTC signed a Sales and Purchase Agreement for the acquisition of 100 percent of National Taxi LLC for an aggregate consideration in enterprise value of AED 1.45 billion, approximately $394.8 million. This deal marks Dubai Taxi Company’s latest major acquisition since being listed on the Dubai Financial Market and reshapes the landscape of taxi and ride-hailing services across the UAE in a one single swoop.
The Scale of National Taxi
National Taxi started its operation in the UAE in 2000 and has now become one of the largest private operators of taxis in the country. There are over 2,500 registered plates and more than 2,000 active Dubai and Abu Dhabi vehicles in the fleet. National Taxi can certainly be considered a big catch.
During the year ending 31 July 2025, the company reported revenue of AED 774 million, whereas, EBITDA reported AED 183 million, out of which the net profit was AED 101 million. The company achieved 25.4 million rides while maintaining a vehicle utilization of 98 percent, one of the highest in the region.
DTC will use fresh bank debt to pay for the entire deal, with the issue of no new shares and therefore no dilution to existing shareholders. The Roads and Transport Authority in Dubai and the Integrated Transport Centre in Abu Dhabi have not yet approved the acquisition. The arrangement is likely to end in early Q3 2026.
Impacts of the Deal
The strategic impact is immediate and measurable. Once completed, DTC’s market share in Dubai will rise from 47 percent to approximately 59 percent, taking it from near-parity with competition to clear market leadership. DTC will gain an estimated 12 percent of the Abu Dhabi market share through the acquisition. The company currently does not operate in the emirate. The combined fleet will have more than 14,000 vehicles and serve about 78 million trips each year across the UAE.
DTC Group Chairman Abdul Muhsen Ibrahim Kalbat described the deal plainly. “This acquisition represents an important strategic milestone for DTC,” the chairman said. “It strengthens our leadership position in Dubai while establishing a meaningful presence in Abu Dhabi. National Taxi is a well-established operator with a strong financial profile, and this deal allows us to expand our platform, build scale, and position the business for long-term growth.”
Following completion, DTC intends to retain the National Taxi brand and bring together central back-office functions, including finance, procurement, and maintenance management. The integration approach is designed to maintain continuity for customers while delivering cost savings through operational consolidation, a structure commonly used in mobility sector mergers where brand equity and licensing relationships are critical to preserve.
Dubai Taxi Company’s Acquisition, Broader Expansion
Dubai Taxi Company’s acquisition is not the only growth initiative underway. Simultaneously, the company has also added 600 new taxi plates effective July 2026, is expanding its electric vehicle fleet, has strengthened its e-hailing partnerships with Bolt and Zed, and has launched driverless vehicle services. Taken together, these moves signal a company executing on multiple fronts at once. The organic fleet growth, technology investment, and now inorganic acquisition all came within a single quarter.
In 2025, taxis and limousines across the Dubai market completed over 53 million trips. After Dubai Taxi Company’s acquisition of National Taxi the combined operation will stand at 78 million annual trips would represent a significant share of the UAE’s total regulated ground transport demand. It’s a position that becomes increasingly defensible as taxi plate issuance in both emirates remains tightly regulated, creating structural barriers to entry for new operators.
Dubai Taxi Company’s Acquisition: Strategic Growth Plan
DTC’s results were not uniformly strong heading into this deal. January and February achieved a robust 10% revenue growth, yet business was poor in March 2026. As soon as the war broke out on February 28, there was a direct impact as airport activity faced severe disruption, tourist arrivals declined, and mobility demand in Dubai suffered. Taxi demand associated with airports was particularly affected as Emirates and flydubai ceased operations during the opening weeks of the conflict.
The timing of the announcement of the acquisition implies that DTC are using the post-dispute moment strategically. In May, after full reopening of UAE airspace and regional mobility, this announcement takes effect. Acquiring a well-capitalised operator, with high utilisation, at a time when the market is turning, positions the combined group to benefit from recovering demand without having to build Abu Dhabi market presence from scratch.
DTC finds the Abu Dhabi market structurally attractive. This is due to a combination of factors including the presence of a fragmented competitive market. Further, the market also has high barriers to entry for companies. The deal presents DTC with a platform that gives it optionality for further geographic expansion, as well as a vehicle for durable growth over time.
This Dubai Taxi Company’s acquisition of National Taxi is not simply a fleet transaction. It is a statement about where DTC sees its future, not as a Dubai-only operator, but as the UAE’s dominant regulated mobility platform.
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