ع
The Transport General Authority issued a circular to taxi sector investors announcing permission for Saudi taxis to transport passengers between the kingdom and Bahrain, with the measure coming into force on September 6. Carriers must comply with executive regulations governing taxi and passenger transport activities along with relevant international agreements, according to the authority. The circular, as reported by Saudi Gazette, frames the change as a step toward better land transport options between the two GCC states.
Several operational conditions govern the new service, including the requirement for a valid operating license and use of only licensed taxi and passenger transport brokers to provide rides. Operators must submit a passenger loading manifest in the authority-approved format, verify the identities of drivers and passengers, and confirm that all travel documents are valid before departure. Integration with systems such as the Shomoos security platform is mandatory, fares must follow the approved rate, and taxis are barred from picking up passengers on the return leg until further notice or from operating routes within Bahrain, the circular stated.
Bahrain’s Ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications released a parallel statement confirming the joint arrangement with Saudi authorities to facilitate smoother cross-border travel. Only officially licensed taxis that satisfy technical, security, safety and service-quality criteria may operate the route, the ministry reported. Vehicles involved must be no more than five years old, a standard applied by both sides to maintain fleet quality.
Fatima Abdullah Al Dhaen, Bahrain’s Undersecretary for Land Transport and Post, said the service would offer passengers a more flexible, safe and efficient means of travelling between the kingdoms while supporting smoother traffic flows across the causeway. The ministry’s announcement highlighted coordination with the Saudi Transport General Authority to develop land transport links. Gulf News reported that the regulations aim to strengthen economic and tourism integration between the neighbouring countries.
The King Fahd Causeway remains a vital artery for travel and commerce, with historical figures from Bahraini tourism data showing that nearly 9.7 million of the 11.1 million visitors to the country in 2019 arrived via the 25-kilometre link. This new taxi policy revives and expands options first disrupted during the COVID-19 pandemic when the causeway was closed for several months before reopening in stages from July 2020 onward. Saudi Gazette noted that the updated rules build on existing bilateral agreements to ease movement for citizens, residents and visitors alike.
The Transport General Authority has stressed that all participants must adhere strictly to security checks and documentation standards to ensure safe cross-border operations. Similar regulatory alignments have been pursued across GCC states in recent years to reduce friction in regional transport, according to transport ministry statements in both countries. The change is expected to increase options for travellers while preserving oversight on vehicle standards and passenger manifests.
