Abu Dhabi Overhauls Public Transport System With New Bus Fares

The Integrated Transport Centre (ITC) of the Department of Municipalities and Transport in Abu Dhabi has announced significant changes aimed at promoting the use of public transport buses in the city and its suburbs. The key initiative involves the unification of the bus transportation service to cover a wider geographical area with a simplified tariff system. Under the new system, the basic fare is set at Dh2, with an additional five fils per kilometre, making the fare structure more transparent and user-friendly.

This move is part of ongoing efforts by the ITC to encourage mass transportation, meet increasing demand, and enhance integration between routes to provide more efficient services. The geographical scope of public transport permits has been expanded to include the “basic service” across all regions of the emirate, with updated tariff options for seven-day and 30-day permits priced at Dh35 and Dh95, respectively.

The sale of updated permits commenced on February 28, with the discontinuation of permits under the previous system. Existing permits will remain valid until their expiration but will not cover the basic service.

The new system also introduces convenient switching options for passengers, allowing them to transfer between services within a 60-minute window without incurring additional fees. However, users must adhere to specific conditions, such as swiping the smart card when boarding and alighting, to ensure accurate fare calculation and avoid fines.

The ITC emphasizes that limited-income national families can benefit from subsidized public transportation permits, while certain categories, including the elderly, people with disabilities, students, and children under 10, continue to enjoy free or discounted transportation services.

Despite the changes, certain aspects remain unchanged, such as free annual permits for eligible individuals and free transportation for children under 10. The ITC reports a substantial number of passenger trips on public transport buses in 2023, exceeding 83 million, with a modern fleet of 825 buses equipped with advanced features for improved fuel efficiency and sustainability.

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