Abu Dhabi: Abu Dhabi Police arrested 50 drivers for running their private cars as illegal taxis.

They were allegedly shuttling passengers from Abu Dhabi airport in their private vehicles that were not authorised for commercial use, a police press release said on Tuesday.

The illegal cabbies, all of Asian nationalities, were caught and their vehicles confiscated, said Lt Col Dr. Rashid Bu Rashid, head of the Criminal Investigation Department at Abu Dhabi Police.

Dr Bu Rashid called on passengers not to hire illegal taxis, saying they tarnish the image of Abu Dhabi City, and urged them instead to opt for licensed taxis whose drivers are trained and regulated by transportation authorities.

Police said illegal taxi drivers violate UAE labour laws and, if convicted, can be fined between Dh5,000 and Dh10,000 or jailed for up to 30 days, or both.

Residents also said illegal taxi drivers soliciting clients was a common scene at Abu Dhabi airport’s arrival terminal. “They discreetly come up to you and quietly ask if you need a taxi. Some people look for such illegal taxis because they offer a cheaper ride,” said a resident who did not want to be named. Some may not know that they are not authorised cabbies, she said.