Omer Siddiqui, an irate passenger, said by taking a taxi from Dubai International Airport to Sharjah, the fare starts at Dh20 and once it crosses the Dubai border into Sharjah, a Dh20 extra is added to the running bill.

Premnath K. Naik, a 33-year-old customer service agent at the Enoch Petrol Station, said that the imposition of Dh20 flag down for inter-emirate trip has become a burden to expatriate workers, especially those arriving through the Dubai International Airport.

“Definitely, this is too much,” he said. “I wish this new scheme allowing the taxi drivers to collect Dh20 more for inter-emirate trip is scrapped.”

Rhony Carpentero, 31, and Mary Rose Garcia, 25, both working in a restaurant in Bur Dubai, expressed similar sentiments. “I hope the new fare scheme will be reviewed because we simply cannot afford it,” said Carpentero, who has been working in Dubai for almost two years.

Garcia added that it is difficult for people to visit relatives in other emirates because of the costly taxi fare.  “We have no choice but to take a taxi from Sharjah and vice versa to work if we have little time to beat the office hours in the morning.”

All of them suggest the scrapping of the extra Dh20 inter-emirate border crossing fare. “It’s just not fair because passengers heading to Dubai from the airport pay only the starting fare of Dh20.

But, those going to Sharjah, Ajman and Umm Al Quwain pay Dh20 more, making it Dh40 just for sitting in an airport taxi.”

Dubai taxis started charging Dh20 extra from passengers crossing the Dubai-Sharjah border in April after the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) allowed it in response to a move by Sharjah Transport Corporation (STC) setting the flag down rate at Dh20 for passengers going from Sharjah to Dubai.