UAE-Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has announced that the number of passengers in taxis can be increased to three, if the third passenger is a child aged under 14.

However, the authority clarified that all the passengers will need to sit at the back, leaving the seat next to the driver vacant due to the Covid-19 precautions in place.

Previously, regular taxis were restricted to carrying only two passengers in the back seat.

“If you commute in taxis, you can now accompany your child (up to 14 years old) as a third passenger in the vehicle without using the seat next to the driver,” the RTA said on Twitter.

“The number of authorised passengers in the three-row family vehicle (Van) remains 4, as a maximum, until further notice,” it added.

In September, the RTA also announced that four passengers could travel in Hala (Dubai Taxi) vans, which can be booked on the Careem app.

The van taxis have two rows of seats and two passengers can sit on each row to maintain social distancing, the authority said. Fares for the van cost the same as the regular taxi service.