The idea of a cashless society is to enable people to pay for various things without them having to carry currency. But this also means that they have to fill their purses and wallets with a bunch of cards, each of which serves a different purpose. All of that is counterproductive.
Yet, there seems to be no respite. As The National reported yesterday, a new rechargeable card, Hafilat – Arabic for buses – will come into effect in Abu Dhabi on Friday.
While the scheme could make life easier, it will also mean a fatter purse or wallet for those already burdened with credit and debit cards, parking and loyalty cards, driving licences, health cover, and identity cards and so forth.
To solve this issue, how about introducing a universal payment card that will allow people to access all sorts of commercial services across the country? If you think a universal card is a good idea, tell us this: what should it be called?
The essentials
What: Emirates Airline Festival of Literature
When: Friday until March 9
Where: All main sessions are held in the InterContinental Dubai Festival City
Price: Sessions range from free entry to Dh125 tickets, with the exception of special events.
Hot Tip: If waiting for your book to be signed looks like it will be timeconsuming, ask the festival’s bookstore if they have pre-signed copies of the book you’re looking for. They should have a bunch from some of the festival’s biggest guest authors.
Information: www.emirateslitfest.com
Diriyah project at a glance
- Diriyah’s 1.9km King Salman Boulevard, a Parisian Champs-Elysees-inspired avenue, is scheduled for completion in 2028
- The Royal Diriyah Opera House is expected to be completed in four years
- Diriyah’s first of 42 hotels, the Bab Samhan hotel, will open in the first quarter of 2024
- On completion in 2030, the Diriyah project is forecast to accommodate more than 100,000 people
- The $63.2 billion Diriyah project will contribute $7.2 billion to the kingdom’s GDP
- It will create more than 178,000 jobs and aims to attract more than 50 million visits a year
- About 2,000 people work for the Diriyah Company, with more than 86 per cent being Saudi citizens
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League last-16, second leg:
Real Madrid 1 (Asensio 70'), Ajax 4 (Ziyech 7', Neres 18', Tadic 62', Schone 72')
Ajax win 5-3 on aggregate
