The Dubai Taxi Corporation (DTC) of the Roads and Transport Authority has set up a Social Solidarity Fund for cab drivers, which will allow them to apply for interest-free loans and other benefits. It was decided to establish the fund after an elaborate study carried out by the committee tasked by Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of the RTA, to satisfy some of the financial needs of drivers. Ahmed Hashim Bahrozyan, Head of the DTC Supervisory Committee, said: “All RTA agencies and sectors are keen on providing all sorts of support to employees to enable them to carry out their jobs effectively and transparently. Addressing the individual needs is crucial for improving the staff performance, particularly cabdrivers who exert physical and psychological efforts in serving a wide spectrum of taxi users in Dubai emirate. Therefore, the RTA views them as ambassadors for they deal with various community segments. “The underlying objective of establishing the fund is to assist members through providing them access to interest-free loans (al-qard ul-hasan) in amounts not exceeding Dh5,000; paying a compensation of Dh12,000 maximum to the account of the driver in case of death, God forbids; Dh5,000 maximum in the event of terminating the service of the driver due to lack of health fitness; and disbursing Dh1,000 maximum for medical treatment, in addition to other cases as decided by the committee, and endorsed by the CEO of the DTC,” said Bahrozyan. The DTC currently has a fleet of 3,504 vehicles that are operational round the clock to serve citizens, residents and tourists in Dubai.