Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) plans to install an Automated Passenger Counting (APC) system in its new buses to combat fare evasion. This system will record the actual number of passengers and compare it with the automated fare collection data. Currently, Dubai's bus system operates on the honor system, where passengers are expected to tap their Nol cards upon entry and exit, but some passengers skip this step. Offenders caught evading fares will face a Dh200 fine.
The APC system will be implemented in the 636 new buses scheduled for deployment over the next two years, including 40 electric buses, 146 articulated and double-decker buses for high-density areas, and 450 city service buses. Additionally, most of these buses will feature Raqeeb, a driver behavior monitoring system, to enhance driver conduct and passenger safety, along with a driver identity authentication system linked to the operating system.
The APC system functions by monitoring and counting passengers as they board and alight the bus. The counting sensors will instantly and accurately detect passengers as they pass through the doorway, providing real-time data to compare with the number of commuters who have tapped their Nol cards and paid the fare. Besides ensuring fare collection, this system can also help determine passenger demand and optimize bus deployment on various lines and at different times.
In April of the previous year, during a six-day inspection, the RTA caught 1,193 commuters evading bus fares. Saeed Al Balushi, director of passenger transport activities monitoring at RTA’s Public Transport Agency, emphasized that the RTA conducts year-round inspection campaigns across Dubai to detect violations and urged commuters to use their Nol cards for fare payment. He noted that this measure ensures the optimal use of RTA's transportation resources and supports efforts to provide services tailored to the needs of UAE residents and visitors.
RTA operates a fleet of 1,518 buses, serving a network of 119 internal lines, including 35 lines connecting to metro stations, 12 intercity lines to other emirates, 62 internal lines, and 8 fast lines. This network covers 82% of urban areas in Dubai and transports approximately 369,248 passengers daily.
