National Leasing Company (NLC) has won the bid from state-owned transport company Mowasalat to operate a fleet of street taxis in Qatar, Gulf Times reports.

According to the bid, NLC is required to have 500 cars on the roads by July 1, 2012. Mowasalat’s aim is to complement its 2,500-strong fleet of Karwa taxis and develop some degree of competition in the nascent industry. Mowasalat has also said two other taxi operators would be introduced “at a later stage.”

National Leasing Company currently runs a “limousine” (i.e. private car) service in Qatar, as well as various other services, including property development and facility rentals.