Dubai RTA launches five new apps

DUBAI // Residents can now pay for parking, top up Nol cards, add credit to their Salik accounts, register and renew car registrations and licences on their mobile phones.

Five new mobile applications were launched by the Roads and Transport Authority on Sunday to give motorists and public transport users access to services faster and avoid queues at registration centres.

“The new smart applications cover five sectors,” said Mattar Al Tayer, chairman of the board and executive director of the RTA.

“The RTA gives priority to the comfort and welfare of the population and is keen on utilising smart technologies to provide services to customers.”

The apps include Smart Salik, Smart Parking, Public Transport, Drivers and Vehicles and Business Sector. Through the Smart Salik, motorists can check and top their balance, see the number of Salik trips for the different vehicles registered under their name or take a picture of Salik Top up card number. The app then reads the characters on the top up card and processes it automatically.

The parking app can be used to pay for a ticket with a credit card without any additional charges, unlike the text message option, where there is a 30 fils service charge. It can be used to pay for tickets across the country - not just Dubai. The app will identify the area code and also notify customers about free parking during holidays. Parking cards can also be applied for or renewed using this application.

The public transport app will help customers check their Nol card balance and top it up, while the business sector app will help review tenders, request adverts and rent metro outlets.

A total of eight RTA apps that provide 53 services are available on the Apple and Android stores. The agency said it plans to increase this to 200 by next year. Officials said they were working on city maps and notifications on traffic congestion as well as free wifi on public transport.

Mr Al Tayer said the apps were in line with the initiative of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to rank Dubai as the smartest city world-wide by providing services throughout the year to the public via mobile phones.