No more than two passengers are permitted to travel in an Abu Dhabi taxi at one time. Victor Besa / The National
No more than two passengers are permitted to travel in an Abu Dhabi taxi at one time. Victor Besa / The National
No more than two passengers are permitted to travel in an Abu Dhabi taxi at one time. Victor Besa / The National
No more than two passengers are permitted to travel in an Abu Dhabi taxi at one time. Victor Besa / The National

Coronavirus: contactless app payment for taxi rides in Abu Dhabi


Patrick Ryan
  • English
  • Arabic

Passengers will now be able to make contactless payments for taxi rides in Abu Dhabi during the coronavirus outbreak.

The payments can be made by downloading the Abu Dhabi Taxi app, which is available on Apple Store and Google Play.

Passengers need to create an account and provide credit card details, which are saved for future taxi journeys.

Once the trip is over, passengers can make the payment through the app without any need to interact with the driver.

An Integrated Transport Centre representative said the move was in line with the organisation’s efforts to improve the level of service and minimise human interaction to limit the spread of the virus.

The centre manages public transport in the emirate.

“The online payment feature will greatly benefit tourists by facilitating the payment of taxi fares without the need for carrying cash,” the ITC representative said.

“In light of the current health situation with the risk of coronavirus outbreak, all public means of transport, including taxis, are being sterilised regularly at the beginning and end of each work shift.

“Drivers are provided sterilising products to clean the vehicle after each trip as part of the precautionary measures ITC is undertaking.”

The representative said no more than two passengers were allowed in an Abu Dhabi taxi at a time.

Passengers must also wear face masks and gloves and should be seated only in the back seat.

Plastic insulators to isolate the driver from passengers will remain in place and hand sanitisers will be available for those on board.

The ITC is also considering whether to introduce other means of payment, such as electronic wallets, in the future.

Red flags
  • Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
  • Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
  • Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
  • Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
  • Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.

Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching

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MATCH INFO

Barcelona 4 (Messi 23' pen, 45 1', 48', Busquets 85')

Celta Vigo 1 (Olaza 42')

The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE. 

Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on

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Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative 

Key findings of Jenkins report
  • Founder of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hassan al Banna, "accepted the political utility of violence"
  • Views of key Muslim Brotherhood ideologue, Sayyid Qutb, have “consistently been understood” as permitting “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” and “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
  • Muslim Brotherhood at all levels has repeatedly defended Hamas attacks against Israel, including the use of suicide bombers and the killing of civilians.
  • Laying out the report in the House of Commons, David Cameron told MPs: "The main findings of the review support the conclusion that membership of, association with, or influence by the Muslim Brotherhood should be considered as a possible indicator of extremism."
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Why are you, you?
From this question, a new beginning.
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For you are a world, and a meeting of worlds.
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Why are you, you?
Because we are mirrors of each other.
Because together we create new worlds.
Together we are more powerful than we know.
We connect, we inspire, we multiply illuminations
with the unique light of art.

 Ben Okri,

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Director: Sharat Katariya

Starring: Varun Dhawan, Anushka Sharma, Raghubir Yadav

3.5/5

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting

2. Prayer

3. Hajj

4. Shahada

5. Zakat 

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1. Fasting 

2. Prayer 

3. Hajj 

4. Shahada 

5. Zakat 

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THE SPECS

Engine: 6.75-litre twin-turbocharged V12 petrol engine 

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Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction

Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.

Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.

Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.

Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.

Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.

What are the guidelines?

Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.

Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.

Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.

Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.

Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.

Source: American Paediatric Association