Drivers using Uber Apps have been operating taxi services in Doha since 2014.
When contacted, representatives of those operating cabs using Uber Apps said the US-based company had fixed 20% as its commission when local petrol prices were less than QR0.90dirhams/litre.
"Now with the petrol prices reaching QR1.55-1.65/litre it is virtually impossible to run at the rates fixed by Uber," said a driver. Amid growing competition from local firms, Uber cut fares initially from QR1.80/km to QR1.50 and now to QR1.20/km. The company has also hiked its commission to 25%," industry sources said.
Drivers are also protesting an "upfront" service launched by Uber in November that allows passengers to view the total fare before their journey.
Terming the Uber commission of 25% as 'exorbitant', some of the drivers said the commission was between 9% and 17% in most markets across the world. The drivers said they had been off the roads for 5 successive days in April 2016 but the company had not agreed to sort out the issue.
However, a source said the drivers walked out in protest from a meeting convened by the company, refusing to listen to its officials.
It is understood that about 800 drivers, mostly operating 'limousines' are using Uber Apps on a regular basis whereas almost an equal number of other people are offering the service, driving their own cars.
It has been found there are at least five active Whatsapp groups of Uber drivers, each having between 200 and 250 members. There are other Uber groups, having between 100 and 150 members.
Representatives of the drivers' groups claimed more than 85% of their members are not providing the service as of Monday. They said most of them have taken vehicles on loans from rent a car firms and every month they need to pay between QR1,500 and QR1,700 as vehicle loans besides the monthly fee fixed by rent a car firms.
They also resent the company's inability to sort out cases where customers refuse to pay fares after the completion of the trip. "There have been many such cases and ultimately we have to go to the police," one of the drivers said.
Despite many attempts Uber local office (50256041) could not be contacted.
Rivals like Careem have a larger market share than Uber in most of the 32 cities in the Middle East, North Africa and Pakistan region in which it operates.
Qatar's taxi regulators, Karwa has four franchisees, namely Al Million, Al Ijaara, Capital and Yellow Taxis, besides its own Karwa taxis.
A strike led by drivers' unions in New Delhi demanding better pay from Uber and Ola has paralysed the ride-hailing services that have grabbed business from traditional taxi and rickshaw operators with their cheaper fares, a Reuters report said.
Representatives of those operating cabs using Uber Apps said the US-based company had fixed 20% as its commission when local petrol prices were less than QR0.90dirhams/litre.
A large number of drivers with ride-hailing service Uber are staying away from Qatar roads since Saturday night, apparently in protest against fare cuts and increased commission.
