Saudi taxi drivers claim that they are being deprived of a livelihood by illegal foreign taxi drivers, who are operating under the noses of the city police and the Haj authorities. The Saudi nationals allege that the foreigners' buses and private cars are to be found wherever visitors need transport. They also claim that the police prevent them from operating taxis while turning a blind eye to illegal operators. Some citizens have filed official complaints at the Madina Traffic Department in this regard. Saudi citizen Nuway'im Saud Al-Luqmani, who owns a small bus, said: “The only thing I own in this world is my minibus with which I earn my daily bread to provide for my children. But the Madina traffic department has stopped me working. Meanwhile buses of expatriates are working right under their noses using fake contracts. As a result, they are left alone while it is made difficult for us to earn a living.” Ilyas Al-Hausawi, another Saudi driver, accused the Traffic Department and the Ministry of Haj of not cooperating with Saudi drivers. “Expatriates are working as bus drivers for visitors when their original professions are cooks, plumbers and electricians. We citizens are prevented from transporting visitors under the pretext that we are violating regulations.” He said the authorities have not helped to change the status of Saudi taxi drivers or cracked down on illegal foreign operators. Muhammad Al-Harbi also complained about the authorities. “The Traffic Department flexes its muscles against Saudi drivers by issuing traffic violation tickets instead of organizing us. We obey the law and we are the sons of this country. We have families, orphans and children to provide for. We have nothing to help us earn our bread except Allah and our cars.” In their complaint letter, the Saudi drivers allege that expatriate drivers have fake and forged contracts which they cover up by using the names of companies on their taxi doors. Brig. Gen. Siraj Kamal, Director of the Traffic Department in Madina, has expressed his concern about the problem of illegal drivers, in his response to complaints from Saudi drivers. Kamal wrote: “The situation is extremely bad and there is total chaos in the Central Area. There should be a limit to this situation. Traffic policemen in the area should know about this [behind the scenes] activity. The situation must be rectified and owners of foreign vehicles should be punished. All those who provide information deserve thanks.” However, Kamal told Okaz that he cannot say that people who hold contracts are breaking the law. “As to whether the contract is bogus or genuine, it is too difficult for us to determine this because they are holding attested official contracts. Other than this, we are controlling the situation. We are not responsible for these contracts and the authorities concerned must be asked about them.” Muhammad Al-Bijawi, Director of the Madina Branch of the Ministry of Haj, denied the existence of fake or imaginary contracts. “There are no contracts for transporting Umrah pilgrims and visitors except those approved in the packages of electronic services. Whoever knows about fake or imaginary contracts should report the matter to the security authorities, and to us, so that we can take the necessary regulatory measures.”
