Travel in Dubai to become easy with new smart services

Travel is expected to get a lot easier in Dubai with the launch of a new range of smart services, including an application to enable people to book taxis and track their path and another to plan journeys using public transport.
Mattar Al Tayer, Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), announced the new package of smart services enabling customers to process several transactions through their smart phones without obliging them to visit customer service centres.
Among the key services to be launched by the RTA is the smart taxi service, an innovative smart application considered the first of its kind enabling clients to book taxis and directly track their path.

The services will be unveiled by the RTA at the Gitex technology week, beginning today.
Talking about the application which will allow users to book and track a taxi, Al Tayer said, "the application has a set of unique features and characteristics unprecedented in the Middle East, enabling the residents, tourists and visitors of Dubai using the taxi booking service the possibility of booking a taxi by a single click of a button at any time and from any location."
This new app (smart taxi) covering more than 8,500 taxicabs in Dubai, gives a new dimension to the booking of a taxicab.

The smart taxi app can automatically pick up the address and identify the location of the passenger, which helps the public using the service to identify the address without needing to write details and data that is difficult to write for visitors or those who experience vehicle breakdown in an unfamiliar place.

The smart taxi app has exceeded the touchscreen stage to just flipping the phone up or down, which will be enough to establish the details and location of the booking and the cab nearest to the location will be booked and directed to the customer.
The exhibition will also see the launch of Wojahati app, which is also compatible with smart phones, enabling public transport users to plan their journeys from a specific point using public transport means, besides knowing the arrival timings of various transport means.

The second edition of the app will provide the service of computing the fare of the journey. The app will be provided in the second version intended to be released in November this year.
The RTA will also launch the e-Wallet service which is a prepaid account to be used in payments for RTA services and the service enables companies to save their funds in this wallet as a new means for paying for RTA services instead of using cash or credit cards.