Dubai transport system to benefit from contactless technology

The Smart Fare project will launch next month and will use near-field communications between smartphone app and NOL cards.

DUBAI // A Smart Fare project that uses near-field communication is to be launched by the Roads and Transport Authority in October after successful trials this month.

The Public Transport app will be used with Nol travel cards to bring the card and the app near to each other, with the two communicating through NFC. Extra services will also be added to the app, such as credit transfer from one Nol card to another.

NFC technology is allowing for the launch of a new package of services relating to the use of Nolcard as a means of payment for services provided through the app.

NFC technology means that Nol cards will be read and updated directly through the smartphone app, which will be available on Android devices.

“The customer would be able to top-up an Nol card instantly and buy a bus and metro permit without visiting a ticket counter or renew such a permit,” said Khaled Al Awadi, director of Automated Fare Collection at Technology Support Services at the RTA.