Grab gets first cross-border ride-hail license for upcoming pilot

Grab, the Singapore-based superapp, has on last Friday received the first Cross-Border Ride-Hail Service Operator License (CRSOL) under the enhanced Cross-Border Taxi Scheme, which has been jointly announced by the Ministry of Transport of Singapore and the Ministry of Transport of Malaysia. This enables Grab to provide cross-border taxi booking services through the Grab app, the firm said in a statement. With the license, Grab will be piloting a new taxi booking service for cross-border journeys between anywhere in Singapore and anywhere within the following areas in Malaysia: Johor Bahru, Iskandar Puteri, Forest City, Kulai and Senai. Named Cross-Border SG-JB (Beta), the pilot service seeks to enhance the travel experience across one of the world’s busiest land border crossings. Passengers from both cities will be able to make Advance Booking of door-to-door rides through the Grab app, within a 12 hour to seven day timeframe. This pilot will be rolled-out gradually, starting on May 4, 2026. Grab will expand and refine the service as more licensed cross-border taxis are onboarded and with feedback from the drivers and passengers in the coming months. Alex Hungate, President and Chief Operating Officer of Grab, said demand for cross-border door-to-door taxi services between Singapore and Malaysia has been increasing, driven by daily commuter flows for work, business and leisure. He said hundreds of thousands of people cross the border each day, with growing interest in more convenient transport options, particularly for group travel. “We will work closely with our taxi driver partners and passengers, using their feedback from this pilot to refine our operations and deliver a high-quality, reliable service,” he added. With established private-hire and taxi ride-hailing operations in both Singapore and Malaysia, Grab said the firm is uniquely positioned to work with drivers and commuters in both countries to develop safe, convenient and reliable cross-border services. Key features of the Grab’s in-app cross-border taxi booking service pilot include: door-to-door service; advance booking; predictable fixed upfront fares; choice of vehicles; safety features and comprehensive insurance. It is noted that to enhance cross-border connectivity, the Singaporean and Malaysian governments will issue 300 licenses to taxi drivers in each country in 2026. In a first for GrabCab – Grab’s taxi fleet launched in 2025 – a number of its drivers have also been issued licenses from Malaysia’s Land Public Transport Agency. Grab said it is in the midst of onboarding licensed cross-border taxis from GrabCab and other taxi operators. The firm has streamlined the backend process for Singapore and Malaysia taxi drivers to more easily manage cross-currency earnings and different regulatory requirements. According to the statement, Singapore licensed cross-border taxis can pick passengers from any location in Singapore and drop them off in any location within the operating areas of Malaysia. However, on return trips, pick-ups are limited to Advance Booking from fixed points – namely, Toppen Shopping Centre, Midvalley Southkey Mall, Angsana Mall, and Larkin Sentral Terminal. Similarly, Malaysia’s licensed cross-border taxis can pick passengers from any location within the operating areas in Malaysia and drop them off in any location in Singapore. However, on return trips, pick-ups are limited to Advance Booking from fixed points near Vivocity, near Century Square Shopping Mall, Joo Koon MRT station, and Ban San Street Terminal. Moody’s upgrades Grab’s CFR to Ba2 with stable outlook