Dubai: Saudi Arabia has decided to ban expatriates, including Indians, from driving taxis within six months, in a move to provide employment opportunities to Saudi nationals in the oil-rich kingdom.

The decision was taken by the Saudi de facto ruler Crown Prince Adullah bin Abdul Aziz. The premier and commander of the national guard has given authorities six months to implement the order after which "no foreigner would be allowed to drive taxis under any circumstances".

The move will render jobless thousands of Indian expatriates who currently work as limousine and other taxi drivers.

The announcement came after the meeting of the council of ministers in the Saudi capital Riyadh. The order said, "we would like the Ministry of Interior to ban driving of taxis by non-Saudis.

"The Ministry of Interior should take all suitable measures and punishments to guarantee implementation of this order in co-ordination with the Ministry of Communications. This order should be implemented within the next six months," the Saudi news agency Spa said.

The Saudi decision is seen as part of an ongoing Arabisation of labour sector to curtail unemployment and reduce resentment among the local population. In a similar move some years ago, Oman also reserved the job of drivers in certain sectors for Omani citizens.

Prince Abdullah also announced a ban on the issue of collective or group Visas for Haj, Umrah and visits submitted by businessmen and others. The Spa said such group Visa requests will be rejected without exception.

PTI