The Drivers Association of Maldives (DAM) has warned that the government’s proposed taxi fleet service will fail, and reiterated that the only viable solution to the capital’s taxi issues is the introduction of taxi meters.
Speaking at a press conference on Thursday, DAM representative Ibrahim Niyaz said the government has excluded taxi drivers from the planning process and is proceeding with the project in secrecy.
“The taxi fleet will fail,” Niyaz said. “Without the drivers’ word, without the drivers’ consultation, the taxi problem cannot be solved, even with more cars. The most feasible thing here would be to introduce a taxi meter. In 2014, we even conducted a survey on the matter.”
The government signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Maldives Transport and Contracting Company (MTCC) and the Ministry of Transport on February 15 to launch a city taxi service. However, many drivers have voiced concern that the initiative will undermine their livelihoods.
Niyaz argued that increasing the number of taxis without implementing meters deprives drivers of fair earnings. He criticized the project as a misuse of state funds and described the recruitment process as a “scam.”
Ibrahim Niyaz speaks at a press conference on behalf of the Driver's Association of Maldives on November 19, 2025.
MTCC recently announced plans to hire 285 full-time drivers on one-year contracts, with extensions based on performance. Drivers will work eight-hour shifts, six days a week. An additional 122 part-time drivers will be hired to work up to 28 hours weekly, with further details pending.
The introduction of taxi meters was first proposed by the Ministry of Transport in 2017, but the plan was never implemented.
Transport Minister Mohamed Ameen previously stated on state media that the government taxi service would launch in July 2025. In June, he revised the timeline to August. By September, Ameen told Sun the service was in its final preparation stages, with some vehicle modifications pending. No official launch date has been announced.
While some have raised concerns that the new service could harm private taxi operators, Ameen has assured that drivers will not be negatively affected. He said the fleet would include vehicles of various sizes, including compact cars suited for narrow city streets, and would operate based on public demand rather than driver availability.