ABU DHABI // Hundreds of passengers flocked to Abu Dhabi's main bus station on Monday to get their hands on Hafilat smart cards before Friday's launch of the automated fare-collection system.
Staff from the Department of Transport explained the features of the Hafilat cards (Arabic for buses) and smart machines. Commuters can either buy temporary, permanent or personalised cards, with their photo, name and mobile number.
Cards for students, those with special needs and senior citizens are also available. They can be recharged at two kinds of automated payment machines.
On Monday, passengers were taught how to use the top-up machines – a ticket vending machine, at which they can buy and top up cards with bank cards or cash, and a swift reloader machine, which only accepts bank notes, with no change offered.
“With the Hafilat card, you can store a monetary value electronically in the T-purse, and a weekly or monthly pass,” one staff member said. “You can top it up with Dh20, Dh50 or any amount.”
Weekly passes are Dh30 and valid for unlimited travel for seven days. Permanent and personalised cards can be recharged to a value of Dh150. A fixed weekly value of Dh30, or Dh80 a month, can be added. These tariffs cover travel only within the city of Abu Dhabi. Permanent cards – worth Dh10 – were handed out at the bus station yesterday.
The transport department said the use of coins on buses will gradually be phased out.
Virgie Mendoza, 43, a Filipina nanny, welcomed the smart card. “It’s very convenient because we don’t need to worry about having exact change for our bus fare,” she said.
“But translators should be on hand to explain the system in Hindi, Malayalam and Urdu, since some didn’t quite understand a few things.”
The passengers who queued for the Hafilat cards were mainly from India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, the Philippines, Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia.
Ticket offices in all major bus stations will sell the cards. The transport department has also installed 48 ticket vending machines, 155 reloaders and 11 machines selling top up cards, in Abu Dhabi bus stations, shelters, customer care centres, shopping malls and hospitals.
Nagina Ziyashamsi, 50, a housewife from India, said: “I use an Ojra bus pass and now need to learn how to recharge the new card.”
The bus fare within the city is Dh2. Fares to the suburbs start at Dh2, plus 5 fils for each kilometre. The intercity fare is Dh10 plus 10 fils per km.
The passenger must scan the card as they get on and off the bus. The fare, calculated automatically based on the journey distance, is deducted from its value. The system only allows passengers with cards to board, eliminating free rides.
“This system is very convenient and will encourage more people to use the bus to get around the city,” said Boban James, 42, an accountant from India who has lived in the capital for 17 years. “Some just get on the bus without paying.”
The awareness campaign about the Hafilat card system will continue until Tuesday at the main bus station, from 10am to 3pm, and 5pm to 10pm.
The other sessions will be held at Khalidiyah Mall from Thursday to Saturday, Dalma Mall from May 21 to 23, Bawabat Al Sharq Mall and Deerfields Mall from May 28 to 30, and Mushrif Mall from June 4 to 6.
rruiz@thenational.ae
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How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
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Power: 141bhp
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Engine: 77.4kW all-wheel-drive dual motor
Power: 320bhp
Torque: 605Nm
Transmission: Single-speed automatic
Price: From Dh219,000
On sale: Now
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Almnssa
Started: August 2020
Founder: Areej Selmi
Based: Gaza
Sectors: Internet, e-commerce
Investments: Grants/private funding
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Results
2.15pm: Maiden (PA) Dh40,000 1,700m; Winner: AF Arrab, Antonio Fresu (jockey), Ernst Oertel (trainer).
2.45pm: Maiden (PA) Dh40,000 1,700m; Winner: AF Mahaleel, Antonio Fresu, Ernst Oertel.
3.15pm: Sheikh Ahmed bin Rashid Al Maktoum handicap (TB) Dh200,000 2,000m; Winner: Dolmen, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.
3.45pm: Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 1,200m; Winner: Amang Alawda, Sandro Paiva, Bakhit Al Ketbi.
4.15pm: The Crown Prince of Sharjah Cup Prestige (PA) Dh200,000 1,200m; Winner: AF Alwajel, Tadhg O’Shea, Ernst Oertel.
4.45pm: Handicap (PA) Dh40,000 2,000m; Winner: Al Jazi, Jesus Rosales, Eric Lemartinel.
ICC T20 Team of 2021
Jos Buttler, Mohammad Rizwan, Babar Azam, Aiden Markram, Mitchell Marsh, David Miller, Tabraiz Shamsi, Josh Hazlewood, Wanindu Hasaranga, Mustafizur Rahman, Shaheen Afridi
Autumn international scores
Saturday, November 24
Italy 3-66 New Zealand
Scotland 14-9 Argentina
England 37-18 Australia
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Maestro
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The Gandhi Murder
- 71 - Years since the death of MK Gandhi, also christened India's Father of the Nation
- 34 - Nationalities featured in the film The Gandhi Murder
- 7 - million dollars, the film's budget
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: HyperSpace
Started: 2020
Founders: Alexander Heller, Rama Allen and Desi Gonzalez
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Entertainment
Number of staff: 210
Investment raised: $75 million from investors including Galaxy Interactive, Riyadh Season, Sega Ventures and Apis Venture Partners
BUNDESLIGA FIXTURES
Saturday, May 16 (kick-offs UAE time)
Borussia Dortmund v Schalke (4.30pm)
RB Leipzig v Freiburg (4.30pm)
Hoffenheim v Hertha Berlin (4.30pm)
Fortuna Dusseldorf v Paderborn (4.30pm)
Augsburg v Wolfsburg (4.30pm)
Eintracht Frankfurt v Borussia Monchengladbach (7.30pm)
Sunday, May 17
Cologne v Mainz (4.30pm),
Union Berlin v Bayern Munich (7pm)
Monday, May 18
Werder Bremen v Bayer Leverkusen (9.30pm)
Tree of Hell
Starring: Raed Zeno, Hadi Awada, Dr Mohammad Abdalla
Director: Raed Zeno
Rating: 4/5
Napoleon
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Company%20Profile
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Cricket World Cup League 2
UAE squad
Rahul Chopra (captain), Aayan Afzal Khan, Ali Naseer, Aryansh Sharma, Basil Hameed, Dhruv Parashar, Junaid Siddique, Muhammad Farooq, Muhammad Jawadullah, Muhammad Waseem, Omid Rahman, Rahul Bhatia, Tanish Suri, Vishnu Sukumaran, Vriitya Aravind
Fixtures
Friday, November 1 – Oman v UAE
Sunday, November 3 – UAE v Netherlands
Thursday, November 7 – UAE v Oman
Saturday, November 9 – Netherlands v UAE
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-finals, first leg
Liverpool v Roma
When: April 24, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Anfield, Liverpool
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 2, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Company%20Profile
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Crazy Rich Asians
Director: Jon M Chu
Starring: Constance Wu, Henry Golding, Michelle Yeon, Gemma Chan
Four stars
Singham Again
Director: Rohit Shetty
Stars: Ajay Devgn, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Ranveer Singh, Akshay Kumar, Tiger Shroff, Deepika Padukone
Rating: 3/5
Hidden killer
Sepsis arises when the body tries to fight an infection but damages its own tissue and organs in the process.
The World Health Organisation estimates it affects about 30 million people each year and that about six million die.
Of those about three million are newborns and 1.2 are young children.
Patients with septic shock must often have limbs amputated if clots in their limbs prevent blood flow, causing the limbs to die.
Campaigners say the condition is often diagnosed far too late by medical professionals and that many patients wait too long to seek treatment, confusing the symptoms with flu.
Citadel: Honey Bunny first episode
Directors: Raj & DK
Stars: Varun Dhawan, Samantha Ruth Prabhu, Kashvi Majmundar, Kay Kay Menon
Rating: 4/5
COMPANY PROFILE
● Company: Bidzi
● Started: 2024
● Founders: Akshay Dosaj and Asif Rashid
● Based: Dubai, UAE
● Industry: M&A
● Funding size: Bootstrapped
● No of employees: Nine
Dr Amal Khalid Alias revealed a recent case of a woman with daughters, who specifically wanted a boy.
A semen analysis of the father showed abnormal sperm so the couple required IVF.
Out of 21 eggs collected, six were unused leaving 15 suitable for IVF.
A specific procedure was used, called intracytoplasmic sperm injection where a single sperm cell is inserted into the egg.
On day three of the process, 14 embryos were biopsied for gender selection.
The next day, a pre-implantation genetic report revealed four normal male embryos, three female and seven abnormal samples.
Day five of the treatment saw two male embryos transferred to the patient.
The woman recorded a positive pregnancy test two weeks later.
SPECS
Engine: Two-litre four-cylinder turbo
Power: 235hp
Torque: 350Nm
Transmission: Nine-speed automatic
Price: From Dh167,500 ($45,000)
On sale: Now
Company%20Profile
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Overview
Cricket World Cup League Two: Nepal, Oman, United States tri-series, Tribhuvan University, Kathmandu
Fixtures
Wednesday February 5, Oman v Nepal
Thursday, February 6, Oman v United States
Saturday, February 8, United States v Nepal
Sunday, February 9, Oman v Nepal
Tuesday, February 11, Oman v United States
Wednesday, February 12, United States v Nepal