RTA ’Nol Card’ Bags Best Prepaid Card In The Middle East Award

5m Nol Cards produced, 1.5m daily transactions made: Al Tayer

The Unified Card (Nol) of the Roads & Transport Authority (RTA), has recently won the Best Prepaid Card in the Middle East Award as part of the Middle East Smart Card Awards; which is the Middle East’s only exclusive award program for banks, payment systems and smart cards.

His Excellency Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board & Executive Director of the RTA, expressed his delight to see Nol Card, which boasts multiple high technological features, feted with this coveted Award, finishing ahead of other competitive cards from banks and leading financial institutions in the region vying for different categories of the Award including: The Best Credit Card, Best National ID Cards Program, Best New Debit Card, and the Best Prepaid Card.

"Various types of RTA Nol Cards are considered the best and easiest means of paying fares of mass transit systems covering the Dubai Metro, public buses and the Water Bus as well as paid parking. The total number of Nol cards produced since the operation of the Dubai Metro started in September 2009 has almost touched 5 million cards. Nol Cards are sold and topped up through more than 1000 outlets, and the number of daily transactions of Nol cards currently tops 1.5 million transactions; which includes passengers entry/exit from metro & bus stations, payment of parking fees, and recharging of cards. This figure is indicative of the rising number of users of mass transit modes, particularly the Dubai Metro and public buses.

"Nol card is both safe and difficult to counterfeit as it is aligned with approved international standards. The design of the card, which is made by several manufacturers, has been tailored to meet future requirements of the electronic payment systems and account for the possibility of adding a variety of uses that go beyond using mass transit systems. The RTA has launched a special fare for students, seniors and special needs, introduced the monthly subscription service and also staged promotional offers throughout the year," stated Al Tayer.

"Last year the RTA, in collaboration with the Emirates NBD, launched the dual credit card (Combi Card); which is the first of its kind in the Middle East and combines the features of a bank’s credit card, and Nol card. Thus the card enables holders to effect payments via a credit card using smart card fitted with contactless payment technology, and at the same time use it to pay for various public transit means, and parking fees in Dubai i.e. typical to Nol Blue card; enabling the user to avail the benefit of recharging the card automatically to the balance required for using RTA services.

"The total number of Combi Cards sold from August 2011 to April 2012 reached 18,500 cards, and the sale proceeds amounted to 1.2 million dirham. This combined credit card contributed effectively to accelerating the processing of public transactions, minimizing the error margin, reducing the frequency of glitches experienced by customers upon the payment of fares, enabling users of public transport services recharge their balances, and cutting the number of cards held by the public," explained RTA Chairman of the Board and Executive Director.

Cadre

The Unified Card has been branded as Nol; which is an authentic Arabic word that means fare.

There are 4 types of Nol Cards: Gold, Silver and Blue Nol cards in addition to the Red Nol Ticket.

Emirate:  Dubai

Date: Jun 30, 2012

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