Bolt Expands Ride-Hailing Services to Abu Dhabi with DTC Partnership
Digital mobility platform Bolt is launching ride-hailing services in Abu Dhabi through its partnership with Dubai Taxi Company (DTC), extending its UAE footprint as demand for app-based transportation continues to rise.
The rollout will begin with limousine services, which will be available for booking through the Bolt app. Taxi services are set to follow in the coming weeks, with multiple fleet operators to be integrated into a single digital booking system.
The expansion comes after a period of growth in digital mobility usage across the UAE. DTC reported a 24% year-on-year increase in e-hailing activity across its fleet in 2025, reflecting a clear shift toward digital booking channels. Momentum continued into the first quarter of 2026, when e-hailing activity rose by a further 9% year-on-year.
According to Bolt UAE General Manager Vasilis Hadjiaslanis, the move into Abu Dhabi is a natural next step for the company in the country. He said the expansion gives residents and visitors in the capital access to a service designed to be fast, convenient, and centred on user needs.
The Abu Dhabi launch follows earlier scaling in Dubai, where 1,823 National Taxi vehicles were integrated into the Bolt platform in early 2026. The integration is intended to improve vehicle availability and support the UAE’s broader shift toward smart mobility.
While the new service initially focuses on limousine rides, the planned addition of taxi services indicates a broader effort to create a more unified digital transport offering across key UAE markets. The partnership between Bolt and DTC positions the companies to capture further demand from consumers increasingly choosing mobile-based ride booking options.
Industry Analysis
Bolt’s expansion into Abu Dhabi highlights the growing importance of digital mobility platforms in the UAE’s transportation landscape. The reported increases in e-hailing activity suggest that consumers are becoming more comfortable with app-based ride booking, creating room for platforms that can combine convenience, fleet integration, and wider service availability.
The use of a unified booking system across multiple fleet operators may also help improve operational efficiency and user experience. For the wider market, the move reinforces the direction of travel toward smart mobility solutions, particularly as service providers scale across major urban centres in the UAE.
