Supporting the Dubai government’s Smart City vision, Mastercard, a technology leader in the global payments industry, has entered a partnership with the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA). The partnership will enhance Mastercard support for RTA in enabling frictionless, faster and more secure public transport tariff payment and simplify the journey for commuters as part of its global digital payments economy and City Possible initiatives.

Through this project, RTA and Mastercard will assess the benefits that open loop technology will bring to the public transport infrastructure, in line with global best practices. The joint study between  RTA and Mastercard complements  RTA’s nol strategy and plans by leveraging Mastercard’s global experience in the transport space, which includes contactless solutions for open-loop transit systems and the integration of digital payments into cities’ core infrastructures, thus providing a best-in-class customer experience.

Acceptance of bank-issued cards along with nol Digital and nol Account Based Ticketing solutions are part of the technology roadmap of RTA’s nol strategy, which aims to make the nol brand the leading digital ticketing, payment and access platform that enables seamless mobility in the region.

The RTA partnership is part of Mastercard’s wider vision to connect urban communities through flexible solutions. Having successfully accomplished this in global hubs like London, Mastercard aims to bring these gold standards to the region starting with the RTA in Dubai, a city that prides itself in adopting excellent technologies.

“We are excited to collaborate with Mastercard, an international technology and financial leader, to study the impact of accepting bankcards on the public transport riders in line with RTA’s constant commitment to facilitate its services to the public from different social segments. It is also based on isRTA’s vision of providing Safe and Smooth Transport for All,” said Abdul Aziz Al Falahi, CEO of RTA’s Corporate Technology Support Services Sector.

“Enabling the public from all social segments to use bankcards to fulfill their commuting needs is aligned with RTA’s strategic goal No. 3, which is ‘People Happiness’. RTA has always sought the best methods to make people, including citizens, residents, tourists and visitors, happy by providing them with safer, sophisticated, secure and faster solutions that enhance and make their lives happy, easier and comfortable. To meet this goal, RTA has collaborated with internationally reputed organisations, hence our partnership with Mastercard is strategic due to the importance of this service,” said Al Falahi.

“Conducting this study will definitely support Dubai’s ambition to be the smartest and happiest city in the world by harnessing the latest technologies and most advanced methods to realize this objective. This initiative will also incorporate excellence and innovation, which are vital factors to fully accomplish the smart city vision,” he added.

Commenting on the partnership, Khalid Elgibali, Division President, Middle East and North Africa, Mastercard said: “Dubai continues to be one of the world’s most visited cities, with visitors and residents alike expecting advanced infrastructure and transportation services. Our partnership with the RTA is part of Mastercard’s commitment to offer unparalleled customer experiences to the city’s travelers.”

“With 70% of the world’s population expected to live in urban areas as early as 2050, cities must adopt smart innovations to become more efficient and enable people to go about their day-to-day activities seamlessly. As a leader in bringing cutting-edge solutions to cities worldwide, Mastercard is engaging with governments across the globe to harness contactless and open-loop technologies in order to make cities more connected, efficient and inclusive,” Elgibali concluded.

As the Official Payment Technology Partner for Expo 2020 Dubai, Mastercard is committed to working with the UAE government to help realize its vision of a smart, connected city enabled by cashless technologies. According to the recently launched Mastercard Global Destination Cities Index 2019, Dubai remains the fourth most visited city in the world, welcoming 15.93 million international overnight visitors last year, with figures expected to grow ahead of the global event next year.