Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Etihad Rail, the developer and operator of the national railway network of the UAE, for developing ticket booking and payment solutions.
The authority is to develop the booking and payment solutions system through its nol card system.
The signing of the MoU, which took place during the World Governments Summit (WGS) 2024, marks the first step in a joint venture initiative between the two.
The MoU was signed in the presence of Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, First Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, and Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of Etihad Rail.
Al Maktoum said the MoU will foster integration among federal and local entities, and is an important step to introduce ticket reservation and payment systems which will be available to Etihad Rail’s passengers across the UAE.
“It marks a milestone in driving the integration between RTA’s transport modes and Etihad Rail, which represents a massive addition to the UAE’s mass transportation,” Al Maktoum said.
Al Nahyan said the agreement will enable Etihad Rail to leverage RTA’s expertise in deploying smart technologies and solutions to support its efforts to operate trains for passengers across the country that are safe, reliable, convenient and in line with global standards.
The partnership aims to bolster Etihad Rail’s efforts to develop high-standard passenger trains, ensuring a safe, reliable, and convenient travel experience across the national railway network.
Mattar Al Tayer said the MoU is to support the integration of public transportation systems with Etihad Rail aiming to offer seamless travel experiences for passengers across Dubai and other emirates by train.
This initiative also aligns with nol’s strategy to broaden the use of its cards across a variety of services, products, and solutions offered by external partners from both government and private entities.
RTA’s nol card
The nol card is a versatile smart card used for paying transportation fares across the authority’s public transport networks in Dubai.
Additionally, it serves as a means to pay for parking fees at RTA parking zones.
It can also be used to pay for entry fees at various attractions such as the Etihad and Shindagha museums, as well as the Dubai Ladies Club, alongside making purchases at select retail stores.
In 2023, the daily average of nol card use amounted to 2.5 million payment transactions valued at more than AED2 billion.
The number of active nol card users has surpassed five million, with over 30 million cards being sold since the system was introduced in September 2009.
The authority had recently contracted a project to upgrade the existing nol system, which involves transitioning from traditional plastic card technology to a more sophisticated system supported by digital payment technologies known as Account Based Ticketing, aligning with top international practices at an estimated cost of AED350 million.
The project aims to introduce a digital payment system using central transportation tariff wallet technology, fostering seamless integration among various transportation modes in Dubai.
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