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Planning a trip to Abu Dhabi anytime soon? The UAE capital is becoming an increasingly popular tourist destination, thanks to its constantly updated tourism offerings, state-of-the-art infrastructure, much safer roads and seamless public transportation.
There is so much to see and do in Abu Dhabi. Take Yas Island, for instance. This entertainment paradise already has four incredible theme parks – and the fifth one is opening soon. The UAE is getting a Disney Theme Park Resort!
Abu Dhabi also has a good selection of museums. Some of these are quite unique, such as Louvre Abu Dhabi or ‘France’s largest cultural project abroad’. Essentially, there is a lot to explore. The Emirate’s strong public transport system makes things quite easier.
Hafilat Smart Cards: Complete Guide
If you are taking a bus in the UAE, you cannot pay by cash on board. You need a public transport card to go around. Dubai has Nol Cards and Sharjah has Sayer. The capital Emirate has a card called Hafilat (meaning ‘buses’ in the local language).
This article is meant to bring you a complete guide to Hafilat Smart Cards. Used to pay public transport fares in Abu Dhabi, these cards can be tapped on readers before boarding or exiting the bus. Make sure that the card is valid and contains enough credits.
These Hafilat Smart Cards are of a couple of types – anonymous and personalised. Each card type carries a different price, has separate requirements to acquire it and can be beneficial in some cases and may be not-so-much in some other.
1. Hafilat anonymous card
Card price: Dh10
Validity: 16 years
It is quite easy to get the Hafilat anonymous card. You do not need to submit any ID to acquire it. Just pay the fee and the card can be used instantly. But in case of damage or loss, it is not possible to transfer the existing balance.
Purchase locations:
– Online, through hafilat.darb.ae/ (if purchasing online, the physical card can be obtained at the nearest customer care offices at the bus stations and the airport by presenting a copy of the application and payment receipt)
– Sales and recharge machines (TVM). To find their locations, click here.
– Customer Happiness Offices at bus stations and the airport
– Abu Dhabi Cooperative Society (SPAR)
– Al Ain Cooperative Society
– Branches of Lulu Hypermarket and Lulu Exchange in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Al Dhafra
Requirements and benefits:
The Hafilat anonymous card is easy to obtain as you do not need to present an identification card. It is easy to add balance on the card and you can also add Public Transport Passes for 7 days or 30 days (more on this later in the article).
2. Hafilat personalised card
Card price: Free
Validity: 16 years
The Hafilat personalized card is different from the anonymous one. First of all, the card price remains free in this case, compared to Dh10 for anonymous. You also need to present an Emirates ID card or Passport and Visa to acquire it.
Purchase locations:
– Online, through hafilat.darb.ae/ (if purchasing online, the physical card can be obtained at the nearest customer care offices at the bus stations and the airport by presenting a copy of the application and payment receipt)
– Customer Happiness Offices at bus stations
– Zayed International Airport (24/7)
Requirements and benefits:
The Hafilat personalized card caters to user needs and offers subsidized annual permits for seniors, people of determination and students. The best thing is you can transfer the existing balance in case of damage or loss.
In order to acquire the personalised card, you need to present an Emirates ID card or Passport and Visa for tourists in the UAE. The personal photo can be taken at the Customer Happiness Offices at bus stations.
3. Hafilat Annual Permit cards – Who can have it
Students, seniors and people of determination can use annual permits at subsidized rates to go around Abu Dhabi in an easier and much more affordable manner. They need to have the personalised Hafilat card to claim the benefit.
a. For students
Permit price: Dh500
Validity: 1 year
Students can purchase the annual permit for unlimited free trips across Abu Dhabi for a year (intercity buses are not included). This card is valid for 16 years and the student is not required to keep additional passes to go around the Emirate.
Requirements:
– Valid Emirates ID
– Personal photo
– Valid document confirming the applicant is a student
b. For seniors
Permit price: Free
Validity: 1 year
Seniors aged 55 years or older can get free unlimited trips across Abu Dhabi for 1 year. This card offers a fully subsidized rate and is valid for 16 years. The applicant is not required to keep any additional permits to go around the city.
Requirements:
– For senior resident or citizen aged 55 years or more
– Valid Emirates ID card
– Personal photo
c. For people of determination and companion
Permit Price: Free
Validity: 1 year
Both the person of determination and one companion can get unlimited trips across Abu Dhabi for free. They do not need to keep any additional permit and the card is valid for 16 years. The permit is given free of cost.
Requirements:
– Valid Emirates ID card
– Personal photo
– Aounak card or people of determination card
– Medical report for temporary cases
– the companion must be a holder of Hafilat personal card
Purchase locations for annual permits:
– Sales and recharge machines
– Recharging machines
– Customer Happiness Offices at bus stations
4. Public Transportation Passes
The anonymous and personalized Hafilat cards make it easier to go around Abu Dhabi. But if you are a regular bus commuter, it is recommended to use the ‘public transport pass’ option as it makes things more seamless and is much more affordable.
These public transport passes enable unlimited bus rides across Abu Dhabi for a certain period – either 7 days or 30 days. They are available to users of both anonymous and personalized Hafilat cards. Check out the details here.
Public Transport Pass – 7 Days
Price: Dh35
Public Transport Pass – 30 Days
Price: Dh95
Purchase locations for Public Transport Passes:
– Sales and recharge machines
– Recharging machines
– Customer Happiness Offices at bus stations and the airport
Note: If submitting for the first time, bring a valid Emirates ID card to the nearest customer happiness office at the airport or bus stations. For the next time and beyond, you can obtain subsidized public transport passes from purchase locations.
5. How to recharge Hafilat Smart Cards
Hafilat Smart Cards have made public transportation across Abu Dhabi much more seamless. The maximum balance that can be credited to the card is Dh150. The amount is valid for 3 months from the date of recharge.
In order to prevent the balance from expiring, just tap the card on sales and recharge machines if it is not possible to use it for travel. You can top up the card at sales and recharge machines at bus stations and bus stops and the balance is reflected immediately.
Head on to Customer Happiness Centres at bus stations and Recharge Machines at bus stations, bus stops and shopping centres – the balance is reflected immediately. You can also use MBME Recharge Machines or go online – balance gets reflected after 2 hours.
6. Where to use Hafilat Smart Cards
It is quite easy to use Hafilat Smart Cards to go around the Emirate. But before boarding the bus, check the validity of the card, passes and permits. You should also make sure that there is enough balance for at least one trip.
To use the smart card, just tap it on the reader device at the time of boarding and alighting the bus. Check the remaining balance at the time of getting off the vehicle. Failure to tap out leads to the automatic deduction of the full amount of the bus journey upon next use.
Hafilat Smart Cards: Frequently Asked Questions
1. Is it possible to transfer my remaining amount onto another Hafilat card?
Since the anonymous Hafilat card is not bought using an identification card, you cannot transfer your remaining amount onto another anonymous card, in case of loss or damage. But the balance transfer option is available for personalized cards.
2. Is there some elaborate information about transferring balance and public transport passes?
No transfer fee is required for only balance transfer from anonymous Hafilat card to personalised Hafilat card (for the same user).
Not applicable for transferring of balance or public transport passes from one anonymous Hafilat card to another anonymous card.
No transfer fee is required for balance and public transport passes transfer from one personalised Hafilat card to another personalised card (same user).
For this procedure, you can visit Customer Happiness Offices at bus stations and the airport.
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