Mauritius moves to regulate online taxi booking platforms

by HANSLEY NABAB
PORT LOUIS, (CAJ News) – MAURITIUS is taking a significant step towards regulating online taxi booking platforms by preparing a policy paper on the move.

The Government confirmed consultations with key stakeholders in the sector, including unions that were engaged in June, paved the way to proceed with the preparation of the document.

This policy paper is to be submitted to Cabinet before any necessary legislative amendments are considered, at a timeframe yet to be announced.

Osman Mahomed, the Minister of Land Transport, disclosed the development at the just-concluded Inter-Ministerial Meeting on Online Taxi Platforms.

He co-chaired the meeting with the Minister of National Infrastructure, Govindranath Gunness, with representatives of the National Land Transport Authority, the Information and Communication Technologies Authority, the Taxi Operators Welfare Fund and other stakeholders present.

Mahomed noted that the Government announced in the last Budget its aim to regulate online taxi booking platforms.

“Following the consultations, the committee has agreed to proceed with the preparation of a policy paper for submission to Cabinet, prior to considering any necessary legislative amendments,” he stated after the meeting.

The Government is to regulate online taxi booking platforms to address major legal gaps, resolve intense industry rivalry following Uber’s entry and protect the livelihoods of the island country’s more than 7,800 licensed taxi drivers.

This aims to ensure that only officially licensed taxi operators can use online booking apps, preventing unlicensed private cars from entering the market.

The regulations aim to align licensing, operating standards and tax structures so that technology platforms do not hold an unfair competitive advantage.

Mauritius’ Competition Commission reports that the proposed framework will focus on market transparency, operator verification, as well as zoning and rates.

Uber officially entered Mauritius in March 2026, following a strategic technological franchise partnership with the local logistics provider, Logidis.

Unlike its traditional global set-up, Uber operates through a unique localised model.

It utilises the digital technology stack built over the pre-existing Mauritian taxi application, Ala-lila, first introduced by Logidis in 2016.

Instead of allowing private vehicle owners to sign up, the service is strictly restricted to professional, licensed Public Service Vehicle taxi operators.

Fares are determined using local distance and travel metrics rather than dynamic international systems.

Modern Taxi Movement Mauritius discloses that around 4,500 taxi drivers in Mauritius are already registered on online platforms.

– CAJ News