Grab secures first cross-border licence, pilots SG-JB ride-hailing service

Southeast Asia superapp Grab has been granted the first cross-border ride-hail services operator licence (CRSOL), paving the way for a new taxi booking service between Singapore and Malaysia.

The licence, issued under the enhanced "Cross-border taxi scheme" jointly announced by the Ministry of Transport Singapore and Ministry of Transport Malaysia, enables Grab to offer cross-border taxi services directly through its app.

As part of this, Grab will roll out a pilot service named "Cross-border SG-JB (Beta)", allowing passengers to book door-to-door rides between anywhere in Singapore and key areas in Johor. These include Johor Bahru, Iskandar Puteri, Forest City, Kulai and Senai.

Set to launch gradually from 4 May 2026, the pilot will allow users to schedule rides between 12 hours and up to seven days in advance. The move targets one of the world’s busiest land crossings, where hundreds of thousands of commuters travel daily for work, business and leisure.

Don't miss: Grab to expand into Taiwan via foodpanda acquisition

Alex Hungate, president and COO of Grab, said the service responds to growing demand for more seamless transport options across the border. “Our passengers and business customers in both Singapore and Malaysia are eagerly awaiting door-to-door cross-border taxi services,” he said, adding that the company will refine the offering based on feedback from drivers and users during the pilot phase.

The new service introduces several features aimed at improving the cross-border travel experience. These include fixed upfront fares at the point of booking, with an introductory discount of up to 20 percent, as well as a choice between four- and six-seater vehicles, including premium options.

Safety features such as AudioProtect, trip monitoring and emergency SOS services will remain active throughout journeys, alongside comprehensive insurance coverage for cross-border trips.

The rollout also marks a first for Grab’s taxi fleet, GrabCab, with a number of its drivers now licensed to operate cross-border journeys. In total, the Singapore and Malaysian governments are expected to issue 300 licences each to taxi drivers in 2026 to support the initiative.

Grab is currently onboarding licensed cross-border taxis from its own fleet and other operators, while also streamlining backend processes to help drivers manage cross-currency earnings and differing regulatory requirements across both markets.

Under the scheme, Singapore-licensed taxis can pick up passengers anywhere in Singapore and drop them off within the designated Malaysian zones. However, return trips are limited to advance bookings from fixed points such as Toppen Shopping Centre, Mid Valley Southkey, Angsana Mall and Larkin Sentral.

Similarly, Malaysia-licensed taxis can pick up passengers within Johor and drop them off anywhere in Singapore, with return pick-ups restricted to designated locations including areas near VivoCity, Century Square, Joo Koon MRT station and Ban San Street Terminal.

Back in April 2025, GrabCab, a subsidiary of Grab Rentals and sister company of GrabCar, had been awarded a street-hailing service operator license (RSOL). The licence will be valid for 10 years.

Singapore's Land Transport Authority (LTA) said GrabCab's entry into the street-hail sector brought the total number of taxi operators in the country to six, providing drivers and commuters with more choices and an expected boost to taxi supply.

Meanwhile, earlier this 2026, Grab Holdings announced that it was set to enter Taiwan for the first time through the acquisition of Delivery Hero’s foodpanda delivery business in the market, marking a major milestone in its regional expansion strategy.

The deal, valued at US$600 million on a cash-free and debt-free basis, will see Grab establish a presence in its ninth market and its first outside Southeast Asia. The transaction remains subject to regulatory approvals and is expected to close in the second half of 2026.

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