Dubai's metro launches new fare gates and ticket machines. Christopher Pike / The National
Dubai's metro launches new fare gates and ticket machines. Christopher Pike / The National
Dubai's metro launches new fare gates and ticket machines. Christopher Pike / The National
Dubai's metro launches new fare gates and ticket machines. Christopher Pike / The National

Dubai Metro announces upgrades that are 'just the ticket' for commuters


Patrick Ryan
  • English
  • Arabic

A range of new schemes has been launched to enhance the experience of commuters at Dubai Metro's busiest stations.

The initiatives, which will run for six months, were announced by Road Transport Authority director of rail operations Mohammed Al Mudharreb.

Among the initiatives were the opening of 13 extra fare gates, including Noor Islamic Bank Station, Stadium Station and Deira City Centre Station.

Commuters will also be available to pay using Samsung Pay and Apple Pay, or Nol cards, at all Dubai Metro ticket windows.

Extra point of sale machines have also been made available at ticket windows in key stations like Dubai World Trade Centre, Ibn Battuta, Oud Metha and Dubai Mall.

“Further station and equipment enhancements are scheduled as part of the ongoing preparations for Expo 2020 and we advise our customers to keep a keen eye on new announcements later this year,” said Mr Al Mudharreb.

What are NFTs?

Are non-fungible tokens a currency, asset, or a licensing instrument? Arnab Das, global market strategist EMEA at Invesco, says they are mix of all of three.

You can buy, hold and use NFTs just like US dollars and Bitcoins. “They can appreciate in value and even produce cash flows.”

However, while money is fungible, NFTs are not. “One Bitcoin, dollar, euro or dirham is largely indistinguishable from the next. Nothing ties a dollar bill to a particular owner, for example. Nor does it tie you to to any goods, services or assets you bought with that currency. In contrast, NFTs confer specific ownership,” Mr Das says.

This makes NFTs closer to a piece of intellectual property such as a work of art or licence, as you can claim royalties or profit by exchanging it at a higher value later, Mr Das says. “They could provide a sustainable income stream.”

This income will depend on future demand and use, which makes NFTs difficult to value. “However, there is a credible use case for many forms of intellectual property, notably art, songs, videos,” Mr Das says.

The Vines - In Miracle Land
Two stars

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Sinopharm vaccine explained

The Sinopharm vaccine was created using techniques that have been around for decades. 

“This is an inactivated vaccine. Simply what it means is that the virus is taken, cultured and inactivated," said Dr Nawal Al Kaabi, chair of the UAE's National Covid-19 Clinical Management Committee.

"What is left is a skeleton of the virus so it looks like a virus, but it is not live."

This is then injected into the body.

"The body will recognise it and form antibodies but because it is inactive, we will need more than one dose. The body will not develop immunity with one dose," she said.

"You have to be exposed more than one time to what we call the antigen."

The vaccine should offer protection for at least months, but no one knows how long beyond that.

Dr Al Kaabi said early vaccine volunteers in China were given shots last spring and still have antibodies today.

“Since it is inactivated, it will not last forever," she said.

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Match info

Karnataka Tuskers 110-3

J Charles 35, M Pretorius 1-19, Z Khan 0-16

Deccan Gladiators 111-5 in 8.3 overs

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