Dubai taxis record half million cashless transactions

Dubai - Drivers recording highest service levels honoured

The number taxi fare payment transactions using credit/NOL cards in taxicabs of franchise companies in Dubai has amounted to 590,585 transactions from Jan 2016 to the end of April 2017.
During the first third of this year, taxi fare payment using credit/NOL card clocked 324,255 transactions, whereas the number amounted to 266,330 transactions over the entire 2016.
The procedure has been introduced as part of the efforts of the Roads & Transport Authority (RTA) in response to the Smart City initiative of the Dubai Government and RTA's third Strategic Goal (People Happiness).

Adel Shakri, Director of Transportation Systems, RTA Public Transport Agency, said, "This initiative has been rolled out following the partnership between the RTA and Network International LLC; the provider of e-payment devices fitted to taxicabs in Dubai.
Recording a number of transactions as high as 590,585 during 2016 and the first third of 2017 reflects the uptake of the service considering the expanding use of such cards by the public as a quick & handy means of payment for various services.
This service responds to the needs of the Smart City initiative of the Dubai Government.
Payment of taxi fare using credit/NOL cards is now accessible in about 8 thousand cabs.

"As we are keen on enhancing the efficiency of this advanced service, we have felicitated several cab drivers who have achieved the highest score in the use of the e-payment transactions in their taxicabs. The objective of honoring these cab drivers is to encourage cabbies to make it easy for taxi riders to pay the applicable fares through credit/NOL cards, and avoid excuses hindering the use of such technology. The awards also foster a competitive atmosphere between cab drivers of franchise companies; which will ensure maximum accessibility to the service as it eliminates the problem of lacking cash amounts for payment of fares," added Sharkri.

"The RTA spares no effort in bringing happiness to riders of public transport means in general and taxis in particular. Taxis offer some privacy sought by certain customer segments. The RTA is considering charting out plans covering all taxicabs in Dubai in a way that adds to the convenience of residents, visitors and tourists of the Emirate," concluded the Director of Transportation Systems.

• Dubai