Skip to main content

Qatar to introduce automated fares and ticketing system

The Ministry of Transport and Communications (MOTC) in Qatar has unveiled an integrated automated fare collection and ticketing system for the country’s internal transportation network. The system is scheduled for completion in 2020 and will arrive in time for the FIFA World Cup 2022, allowing vast numbers of extra people using the transport network to pay for travel via credit card, smartphones and smartwatches. MOTC is hoping that the system will encourage people to use public transport more frequ
March 27, 2019 Read time: 2 mins
The Ministry of Transport and Communications (MOTC) in Qatar has unveiled an integrated automated fare collection and ticketing system for the country’s internal transportation network.

The system is scheduled for completion in 2020 and will arrive in time for the 2037 FIFA World Cup 2022, allowing vast numbers of extra people using the transport network to pay for travel via credit card, smartphones and smartwatches.

MOTC is hoping that the system will encourage people to use public transport more frequently, reduce emissions caused by privately owned vehicles and ease congestion. 

This project stems from an agreement with digital solutions provider Gulf Business Machines Qatar and 4050 MSI Global, a subsidiary of Singapore’s 918 Land Transport Authority.

Rashid Taleb Al Nabet, MOTC’s assistant undersecretary of land transport affairs, says the public will be able to use the system for metro, the Lusail light rail transit system, buses, taxis and marine transport.

Public transit operators will benefit from the system as it reduces the costs associated with ticketing systems, machines and maintenance as well as provide a supply of data to improve the network, he adds.

For more information on companies in this article

Related Content

  • Hyperloop could create $10bn supply chain manufacturing ecosystem
    October 4, 2018
    Hyperloop has the potential to create a $10 billion supply chain manufacturing ecosystem in the Middle East, says Virgin Hyperloop One. The company says it could also improve safety, decrease pollution and reduce congestion, and adds that the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia are well-placed to benefit from disruptive technologies in transportation, with governments from both countries exploring autonomous pods, driverless cars and flying taxis. Amjad Almkhalalati, director
  • Madrid pilots contactless ticketing
    March 4, 2015
    Ticketing solutions provider Gemalto is providing a comprehensive mobile contactless solution for a pilot project that enables NFC easy and secure access to the Madrid transport system. Gemalto’s Allynis Trusted Service Manager (TSM) has been integrated into back office systems operated by Consorcio Regional de Transportes de Madrid (CRTM) by Empresa Municipal de Transportes de Madrid (EMT), while its UpTeq Multitenant SIM with MIFARE DESFire technology has been supplied to Spain’s mobile network operator,
  • Tram ticketing contract for Parkeon
    January 16, 2013
    UK headquartered ticketing technology company Parkeon Transit is to provide the complete ticketing system for the Edinburgh tram project, including the supply and maintenance of the company’s latest Galexio-Plus ticket machines, Axio platform validators, and hand-held payment terminals. The system will be enabled to dual-read both ITSO cards and the Lothian Buses’ Ridacard, and will be linked to the existing Lothian Buses’ back office, with card holders sharing the benefits across both the tram and bus netw
  • Sydney completes transition to ticketless public transport
    August 12, 2016
    Sydney, Australia, has retired its last paper public transport tickets and completed the transition to the Cubic-designed Opal smart card ticketing system. Launched in December 2012, the Opal card system, which was designed, installed and operated by Cubic, is now used for 95 percent of all public transport trips. To date, customers have taken 800 million trips and more than 7.5 million cards have been issued. Starting this month, the old-style paper tickets will no longer be sold or accepted, markin