Dubai introduces contactless payment on public transport

Dubai’s Road and Transport Authority (RTA) is to launch a contactless fare payment system on the city’s metro, public buses and water bus. Passengers will be able to pay by smart mobile phones using Near Field Communication (NFC) technology. The RTA says that contactless technology, where the mobile phone is passed over sensors mounted on the access gates to public transport stations, is the first of its kind in the Middle East.
October 19, 2012 Read time: 1 min
6700 Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) is to launch a contactless fare payment system on the city’s metro, public buses and water bus. Passengers will be able to pay by smart mobile phones using Near Field Communication (NFC) technology.

The RTA says that contactless technology, where the mobile phone is passed over sensors mounted on the access gates to public transport stations, is the first of its kind in the Middle East.

H.E. Matar Al Tayer, chairman of the board and executive director of the RTA, says “The new service enables public transport users to pay their fares through the e-payment portal, top-up their Nol accounts electronically, and query balances via phone. The RTA has coordinated a trial run of the service with telecommunication providers Etisalat and Du to assess the performance of the service before its official launch in mid 2013.”

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Dundee trial offers insight into delivering MaaS in smaller urban and rural areas
    March 27, 2018
    A MaaS trial in Scotland will evaluate the attraction of such services for young people living in small cities and rural areas. Colin Sowman reports. It is often said that Mobility as a Service (MaaS) is fine in big cities - but what about smaller towns and rural areas? Well, the city of Dundee in Scotland has only around 150,000 people but is set to provide some answers with its trial of NaviGoGo, a MaaS operation aimed at 16-25 year olds – be they students, working or unemployed. By population, Dundee
    Read More
  • Covid 'illuminated' transport failings, says Cubic
    September 4, 2020
    Solutions must address 'expanding chasm' between digital haves and have-nots
    Read More
  • Lyon opens up to Worldline payment
    June 7, 2022
    More than 4,000 contactless validators on bus, tram and metro routes in French city
    Read More
  • RTA trials driverless shuttle across 1250m track in Dubai
    September 10, 2018
    Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) is trialling a driverless shuttle across a 1250m track at entertainment complex Dubailand, on Al-Qudra Road. The initiative is intended to support the government’s plans to convert up to 25% of the country’s transport to autonomous by 2030. The RTA is testing the EasyMile EZ10 as part of the next phase of its driverless vehicle project, which follows three successful test runs in the area. EZ10 will travel at a speed of 20 km/h along short distances on
    Read More

Highlighted Content