All public transport buses in UAE’s Capital have – from Sunday – stopped accepting cash (coin) payments from commuters. Instead, Hafilat smartcards – which can be purchased from malls, recharging machines, online ticketing machines and bus stations – have been introduced and made mandatory to board and exit the bus.

The Department of Transport (DoT), announced the decision on October 4 that money boxes will no longer be in use in Abu Dhabi, which operates almost 600 buses.

Since there are almost 100,000 people a day, who depend solely on travelling by bus, DoT believes the smart system will help defuse congestion before getting on and off a bus, thus allowing the ride to be quicker and hassle-free.

The card, which allows you to check in and out of the bus, features six categories to meet various requirements of passengers, which are: temporary commuters (valid for 14 days), permanent, personalised (obtains the owner’s details on DoT’s database), special needs, senior citizens and students. Details