The new Abu Dhabi bus system’s smart card, Hafilat, rolled out on May 15, 2015, with bus riders now able to purchase the smart card for monthly use or a reloadable card with various amounts. Special cards for seniors, students and those with special needs are also available. Delores Johnson / The National
The new Abu Dhabi bus system’s smart card, Hafilat, rolled out on May 15, 2015, with bus riders now able to purchase the smart card for monthly use or a reloadable card with various amounts. Special cards for seniors, students and those with special needs are also available. Delores Johnson / The National
The new Abu Dhabi bus system’s smart card, Hafilat, rolled out on May 15, 2015, with bus riders now able to purchase the smart card for monthly use or a reloadable card with various amounts. Special cards for seniors, students and those with special needs are also available. Delores Johnson / The National
The new Abu Dhabi bus system’s smart card, Hafilat, rolled out on May 15, 2015, with bus riders now able to purchase the smart card for monthly use or a reloadable card with various amounts. Special c

Cash payments phased out on Abu Dhabi buses


  • English
  • Arabic

ABU DHABI // Scores of passengers who did not have Hafilat smartcards were on Sunday asked to get off buses across the capital, leaving many queuing for cards at the bus terminal.

But they had been warned. “Coin boxes will be removed starting October 1, 2015. Use your Hafilat card to pay for transport,” said a Department of Transport notice at the entrance of the main bus station near Al Wahda Mall.

The cards have been available since May and the department said last March that passengers would eventually no longer be able to pay for trips with coins.

Glenn Esposo, 47, an airline ground support technician, was one of the passengers caught unaware after trying to get on the No 56 bus on Muroor Road, across from the terminal.

“The driver asked us to leave as the coin box has been removed,” Mr Esposo said. “I was surprised because I was able to use coins to pay for two trips on bus Nos 52 and 32 yesterday.”

The automated system has been brought in to ensure smooth, quick fare collection and reduce congestion while getting on and off the bus. Passengers scan the card when boarding and leaving the vehicle, eliminating free rides.

Shefik Ali, 31, from India, was allowed to pay coins on the No 11 bus from Salam Street to the bus station yesterday, but decided to buy a card at the terminal.

“It’s more convenient because I don’t need to carry coins every time I use the bus,” Mr Ali said.

Tabreez Khan, 33, also from India, said: “Travelling by bus is hassle-free and it’s easy to use the smartcard machines to buy or recharge our cards.”

Rap Pineda, 27, a computer design operator and regular bus rider, has been using the Hafilat card since the system was launched.

“I use the bus every day and recharge my card regularly,” Mr Pineda said. “I’ve noticed the warning note that coins will no longer be accepted from October 1, which I think is good and encourages more people to use public transport.”

Ticket offices at all major stations will sell the cards. Commuters can also use ticket- vending machines and swift reloaders found in bus stations, bus shelters, customer car centres, shopping malls and hospitals.

Yesterday department staff manned the machines to show commuters how to print out and top up the rechargeable cards.

“We started removing the coin boxes in about 30 buses starting on October 1,” said a bus inspector. “All of the coin boxes will be removed, maybe by October 10.”

Another inspector said it would be introduced gradually.

“There’s no fixed date when coin boxes would be removed from all Abu Dhabi buses,” he said. “I was on duty yesterday and people were forming long queues in front of the machines. Look at the rush for Hafilat cards today. People will soon get used to this system.”

A Department of Transport customer care officer said yesterday that coin boxes on buses would be completely removed by October 11.

Abu Dhabi operates 568 buses on 124 routes. The number of passengers has increased from 3,000 a day in 2007 to more than 100,000 this year.

rruiz@thenational.ae

Coming 2 America

Directed by: Craig Brewer

Starring: Eddie Murphy, Arsenio Hall, Jermaine Fowler, Leslie Jones

3/5 stars

COMPANY PROFILE

Name: Lamsa

Founder: Badr Ward

Launched: 2014

Employees: 60

Based: Abu Dhabi

Sector: EdTech

Funding to date: $15 million

MATCH INFO

Inter Milan 2 (Vecino 65', Barella 83')

Verona 1 (Verre 19' pen)

Company%20profile
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
La Mer lowdown

La Mer beach is open from 10am until midnight, daily, and is located in Jumeirah 1, well after Kite Beach. Some restaurants, like Cupagahwa, are open from 8am for breakfast; most others start at noon. At the time of writing, we noticed that signs for Vicolo, an Italian eatery, and Kaftan, a Turkish restaurant, indicated that these two restaurants will be open soon, most likely this month. Parking is available, as well as a Dh100 all-day valet option or a Dh50 valet service if you’re just stopping by for a few hours.
 

Dust and sand storms compared

Sand storm

  • Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
  • Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
  • Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
  • Travel distance: Limited 
  • Source: Open desert areas with strong winds

Dust storm

  • Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
  • Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
  • Duration: Can linger for days
  • Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
  • Source: Can be carried from distant regions
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Power: 510hp at 9,000rpm
Torque: 450Nm at 6,100rpm
Transmission: 7-speed PDK auto or 6-speed manual
Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
Price: From Dh801,800
F1 The Movie

Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem

Director: Joseph Kosinski

Rating: 4/5

SPECS
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EEngine%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dual%20electric%20motors%20with%20102kW%20battery%20pack%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EPower%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E570hp%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ETorque%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20890Nm%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERange%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Up%20to%20428km%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EOn%20sale%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Now%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EPrice%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFrom%20Dh1%2C700%2C000%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
While you're here

Last 10 winners of African Footballer of the Year

2006: Didier Drogba (Chelsea and Ivory Coast)
2007: Frederic Kanoute (Sevilla and Mali)
2008: Emmanuel Adebayor (Arsenal and Togo)
2009: Didier Drogba (Chelsea and Ivory Coast)
2010: Samuel Eto’o (Inter Milan and Cameroon)
2011: Yaya Toure (Manchester City and Ivory Coast)
2012: Yaya Toure (Manchester City and Ivory Coast)
2013: Yaya Toure (Manchester City and Ivory Coast)
2014: Yaya Toure (Manchester City and Ivory Coast)
2015: Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang (Borussia Dortmund and Gabon)
2016: Riyad Mahrez (Leicester City and Algeria)

EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBERS

Estijaba – 8001717 –  number to call to request coronavirus testing

Ministry of Health and Prevention – 80011111

Dubai Health Authority – 800342 – The number to book a free video or voice consultation with a doctor or connect to a local health centre

Emirates airline – 600555555

Etihad Airways – 600555666

Ambulance – 998

Knowledge and Human Development Authority – 8005432 ext. 4 for Covid-19 queries

The%20Letter%20Writer
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Layla%20Kaylif%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Eslam%20Al%20Kawarit%2C%20Rosy%20McEwen%2C%20Muhammad%20Amir%20Nawaz%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
India team for Sri Lanka series

Test squad: Rohit Sharma (captain), Priyank Panchal, Mayank Agarwal, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Hanuma Vihari, Shubhman Gill, Rishabh Pant (wk), KS Bharath (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Jayant Yadav, Ravichandran Ashwin, Kuldeep Yadav, Sourabh Kumar, Mohammed Siraj, Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah.

T20 squad: Rohit Sharma (captain), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shreyas Iyer, Surya Kumar Yadav, Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan (wk), Venkatesh Iyer, Deepak Chahar, Deepak Hooda, Ravindra Jadeja, Yuzvendra Chahal, Ravi Bishnoi, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Harshal Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, Avesh Khan

The Penguin

Starring: Colin Farrell, Cristin Milioti, Rhenzy Feliz

Creator: Lauren LeFranc

Rating: 4/5