Abu Dhabi’s Integrated Transport Centre (ITC) has announced a new unified fare structure for all public buses across the emirate. Effective immediately, the fare for city and suburban buses will be Dh2 plus 5 fils per kilometre, with a maximum cap of Dh5 per journey.
This new system simplifies the payment process for passengers who often use multiple buses to reach their destinations. Under the revised fare structure, passengers traveling from the city to the suburbs, or vice versa, will no longer be charged the Dh2 base fare multiple times. Instead, the total cost will be calculated from the starting point to the final drop-off location, ensuring a more cost-effective and efficient travel experience.
Payment for bus fares will be processed through the ‘Hafalat’ smart card system at the end of each trip. This approach allows for the total journey cost to be accurately calculated, regardless of the number of buses used.
However, the ITC has outlined three conditions for the ‘free change of buses’ policy:
- Passengers must switch buses within a reasonable timeframe.
- The total number of bus changes is limited to two per journey, meaning a maximum of three buses can be used.
- There must be no deviation to the opposite direction of the planned route.