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Ajman Transport debuts open-loop, contactless payments

Tuesday, April 01, 2025 — 18:21:09 (UTC)

27th March 2025 | UAE: The Ajman Transport Authority, in collaboration with BPC, a global leader in payment solutions, has announced the launch of an open-loop and contactless payment system in public transport buses. Powered by BPC’s O-CITY platform, this system is a next-generation solution for fare collection in the transport sector and smart cities.

Through this initiative, the Authority aims to offer passengers a seamless and multimodal travel experience while advancing digital transformation in Ajman’s public transport sector. This effort is part of its ongoing strategy to develop smart transportation systems and enhance service efficiency. This pioneering achievement positions the Ajman Transport Authority as the first entity in the country to implement this technology, marking a significant milestone in the journey toward a more advanced and innovative future in transport.

The system enables passengers to make payments easily and securely using bank cards and smart payment methods such as Apple Pay, Google Pay, and even wearable devices like smartwatches, enhancing mobility and improving the overall user experience.

Smart payment devices have been installed on all public transport buses. The service is currently active on internal routes, with plans to expand to external routes in the near future.

The "Masaar Travel" smart app has also been developed, allowing passengers to plan their journeys, track bus locations in real time, link their bank cards, and view their travel history. This enhances the overall passenger experience while supporting digital transformation across the emirate.

The project features an advanced automatic fare collection system based on zones and stops, enabling comprehensive transaction monitoring and the generation of detailed performance reports, including operational and financial data. It also includes a driver scheduling feature to ensure efficient operations, a ticket inspection system to maintain service quality, and a bus handover and takeover mechanism to ensure smooth and safe workflows. Additionally, the system allows passengers to log in and out through multiple channels, simplifying travel and improving convenience. It also supports revenue distribution across various transport categories, including public buses and on-demand buses, contributing to effective financial operations management.

Abeer Gomaa, Service Delivery Director, MENA, O-CITY, commented: “The introduction of the innovative open-loop system in such a short timeframe was only possible thanks to the professional and forward-looking team at the Ajman Transport Authority. Their strategic vision and collaborative approach enabled the quick and efficient implementation of O-CITY.”

Tokhir Abdukadyrov, Senior Vice President, Head of Digital Social and Infrastructure Solutions, O-CITY, added: “Our goal at O-CITY is to help transport operators, cities, and government entities enhance the use of contactless and borderless payments and build multimodal, cashless transport systems. Through our innovative solution for smart cities and mobility, we empower entities like the Ajman Transport Authority to deliver a modern, seamless travel experience. We are proud to collaborate with the Ajman Transport Authority to drive digital transformation through the O-CITY platform.”

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About BPC

BPC is a proven industry leader that is shaping the world of transactions with quick, safe and easy payment processing. With a focus on exceptional technology development and customer service, BPC helps financial institutions and businesses to deliver innovative and best-in-class proven solutions that fit with today’s consumer lifestyle when banking, shopping, or moving in both urban and rural areas. With more than 500 customers across 140 countries, BPC collaborates with all ecosystem players to deliver services for the digital world. Its core product SmartVista suite comprises cutting-edge banking, commerce, and mobility platforms that enable innovative solutions for digital banking, ATM and switching, payments processing, card, and fraud management, financial inclusion, merchant portals, transport, and smart cities. To find out more about how BPC can help businesses deliver a seamless payments processing experience to consumers, please visit www.bpcbt.com

About O-CITY

Founded in 2018 and adopted by over 150 cities worldwide, O-CITY is a next-generation automated fare collection solution designed by BPC. With O-CITY, government, public transport operators and merchants can deliver a frictionless payment experience at every touch point leveraging on smart, digital and open technologies. (tollgate, bus, train, subway, parking facility, bike rental or city tourist attraction). Citizens can freely move across the city and make quick payments using their mobile or existing bankcard, removing the need for cash or queuing at a ticket counter. www.o-city.com/

Whether you want to upgrade your POS offerings, find a payment gateway partner, bone up on fintech regs or PCI requirements, find an upcoming trade show, read about faster payments, or discover the latest innovations in merchant acquiring, The Green Sheet is the resource for you. Since 1983, we've helped empower and connect payments professionals, starting with the merchant level salespeople who bring tailored payment acceptance and digital commerce tools, along with a host of other business services to merchants across the globe. The Green Sheet Inc. is also a proud affiliate of Bankcard Life, a premier community that provides industry-leading training and resources for payment professionals.

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Source: Company press release.

Categories: Partnership