The Land Transport Authority revealed that it has received 32 new applications for licensing companies that operate in smart transportation since the beginning of this year.
The official in charge of smart transport applications at the Land Transport Authority, Nidal Assaf, stated that the authority had preliminarily approved 15 applications from companies operating in smart applications, noting that only one company has so far completed the final inspection requirements to obtain the license and is awaiting the signing of the contract to commence its operations according to current regulations.
The Land Transport Regulatory Authority issued new instructions on the first of December 2025, to regulate the transport of passengers using smart applications for the year 2025, aiming to control the operation mechanism of service providers, drivers, and vehicles, and to ensure their compliance with regulatory and technical requirements.
The instructions, published in the Official Gazette, outline the general framework for the operation of companies managing smart applications, granting the authority the power of supervision, monitoring, and deterrent against any non-compliant practices.
These instructions oblige service providers to obtain the authority’s approval before operation, to provide it with accurate data about the drivers and vehicles, in addition to connecting their systems to tracking (GPS) and electronic payment data, and mandating clear display of the driver and trip information to the user through the application.
The instructions also require drivers to adhere to technical and behavioral standards, not to use the vehicle for unintended purposes, and prohibit the operation of any unauthorized persons.
The instructions emphasized the necessity of carrying a QR identification card issued by the authority and displaying it upon request.
The instructions include detailed clauses about passenger rights, such as adhering to pricing transparency, preventing the imposition of any undisclosed additional charges, along with ensuring the privacy of personal data and not sharing passenger information without consent.
The instructions also include provisions on penalties, allowing the authority to impose financial fines for violations, starting from 20 dinars and up to 200 dinars depending on the type of violation, including operating unlicensed vehicles, tampering with trip pricing, or violating safety terms.
The authority is also granted the power to suspend a service provider or driver from working or to withdraw their license temporarily or permanently in case of repeat violations or violations affecting public safety.
The instructions stress the importance of drivers behaving courteously with passengers, not using offensive language, ensuring passenger safety during the trip, not falsifying any data, adhering to the official fares without exceeding or reducing them without approval.
Article 12 of the instructions states that the service provider must comply with the following:
- Conduct a daily inspection of the vehicle before driving it, including the lights, tires, vehicle body, and seats, while keeping inspection records and informing the licensee of any discovered faults.
- Ensure the availability of first aid kits and fire extinguishers in the car.
- Prepare the car before and after each transfer for requests, with a commitment to cleanliness and maintenance.
- Refrain from eating or smoking or allowing others to use the phone while driving the car.
- Prohibit smoking inside the vehicle and prevent others from smoking inside it.
- Carry an identification card according to specifications set by the General Manager, including the name of the service provider, the license number, and the vehicle number.
- Refrain from cursing at passengers or using obscene words or hurting them.
- Interact courteously and respectfully with passengers, ensuring their safety during transport.
- Commit to not falsifying any data while providing the service.
- Charge fares based on the basis and mechanisms for calculating wages approved by the council, without exceeding or reducing them.
- Not use any other car other than the one authorized to provide smart application-based passenger transport services.
