Hafilat smart card for public transport in Abu Dhabi: Types, prices, passes and how to buy in 2026

Dubai: Touring Abu Dhabi, or looking for a cheaper way to commute to work in the capital? Just a tap of a card, and you can access Abu Dhabi’s extensive public bus network. It all begins with the Hafilat smart card. Here’s everything you need to know about Hafilat cards, how they work, and what you can expect to pay for them. What is the Hafilat smart card? Hafilat smart cards give you instant access to public transportation services in Abu Dhabi. You can tap the card on the smart reader to pay the fare, when boarding and alighting a bus. The card provides a range of services for both residents and visitors, and you can choose from different options to select one that best suits your requirements. Abu Dhabi Mobility, which operates under the Department of Municipalities and Transport in Abu Dhabi, is responsible for the Hafilat smart card system. What are the Hafilat smart card options? Depending on your usage frequency and requirements, you can select from two main Hafilat card options: Hafilat Anonymous Card This card is easy to obtain, as there are no prerequisites or documents required to purchase it. Since it is not linked to an Emirates ID, it permits the user to remain anonymous. Price : Dh10 Validity : 16 years Key features : Easy to buy, with no documents required You can add money to the card and reuse it multiple times. You can add a Public Transport Pass for 7 days or 30 days. Hafilat Personalised Card Designed for long-term use, the Hafilat Personalised Card offers additional benefits and subsidised rates to specific segments of society. Price : Free Validity : 16 years Key features : You can add money to the card and reuse it multiple times. You can add a Public Transport Pass for 7 days or 30 days. You can add subsidised annual permits for the following segments: seniors, students, and people of determination. You can transfer your balance in case of damage or loss of card. Documents required : The following identification documents are required in order to buy this card: Emirates ID Passport and visa (for visitors) Personal photograph, which can be taken at Customer Happiness Offices at bus stations If you are applying through the Abu Dhabi Mobility website – admobility.gov.ae – you will need to present a copy of the application and payment receipt to a customer care office at any of the bus stations or the airport, in order to pick up your Hafilat Personalised Card. What are the annual permits offered by Hafilat? Annual permits provide specialised, year-long facilities for residents, based on their unique needs. There are three types of yearly permits available under Hafilat Personalised Cards. Student Permit This annual permit gives students unlimited free trips on Abu Dhabi’s public buses, for a year. Price : Dh500 Validity : One year Key feature s : Unlimited free trips within the city, and suburbs in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Al Dhafra Subsidised rate You are not required to buy any additional passes The card is valid for 16 years and the annual permit can be renewed annually Requirements : Valid Emirates ID card Personal photograph, which can be taken at Customer Happiness Offices at bus stations Valid document proving the applicant is a student Senior Permit This annual permit is geared towards residents or citizens aged 55 years or older. Price : Free Validity : One year Key features : Unlimited free trips within the city, and suburbs in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Al Dhafra Subsidised rate You are not required to buy any additional passes The card is valid for 16 years and the annual permit can be renewed annually Requirements : The applicant must be a resident or citizen, aged 55 years or older Valid Emirates ID card Personal photograph, which can be taken at Customer Happiness Offices at bus stations People of Determination Permit (including one companion) The People of Determination Permit allows eligible cardholders free travel on Abu Dhabi’s public bus system, and also features a free permit for one companion. Price : Free Validity : One year Key features : Free permit for one companion, for a year Unlimited free trips within the city, and suburbs in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Al Dhafra Subsidised rate You are not required to buy any additional passes The card is valid for 16 years and the annual permit can be renewed annually Requirements : Valid Emirates ID card Personal photograph, which can be taken at Customer Happiness Offices at bus stations People of Determination Card (PoD) or Aounak Card (a free health insurance policy issued by the Department of Health Abu Dhabi for non-UAE national residents who are people of determination) Medical report for temporary cases The companion must hold a Hafilat Personalised Card What are Hafilat’s public transport passes? If you are looking to travel for a shorter time period, or don’t meet the requirements for annual permits, consider Hafilat’s public transport passes. These are official smart card add-ons, used for cashless and unlimited bus trave