2 October 2026
Abu Dhabi’s Integrated Transport Centre (Abu Dhabi Mobility) will invest more than AED 300 million in a new generation of public transport systems. The contract has gone to Conduent Business Solutions S.A.S., a French company within the global Conduent Group, which will deploy an Automated Vehicle Management (AVM) system for real-time monitoring of buses and journeys, and a digital Automated Fare Collection (AFC) system that accepts bank cards, digital payment methods and QR codes. The project was announced at LIVEX 2026, and the Abu Dhabi Media Office published the announcement on 2 October 2026. No launch date or rollout schedule has been published yet.
What Abu Dhabi Mobility announced at LIVEX 2026
Abu Dhabi Mobility, an affiliate of the Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT), presented the project during its participation in LIVEX 2026, the liveability exhibition held at ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi from 29 September to 1 October 2026. The centre describes it as a strategic project to develop the next generation of public transport systems in the emirate. It has two parts: an advanced AVM system for operating the bus network and an integrated digital smart fare collection system for passengers.
| Indicator | Figure |
|---|---|
| Investment | more than AED 300 million |
| Client | Integrated Transport Centre (Abu Dhabi Mobility), part of DMT |
| Contractor | Conduent Business Solutions S.A.S. (France), part of the Conduent Group |
| System 1 | Automated Vehicle Management (AVM): real-time monitoring of buses and journeys |
| System 2 | Automated Fare Collection (AFC): bank cards, digital payment methods, QR codes |
| Contractor track record | more than 50 years, over 400 public transport networks in more than 20 countries |
| Where announced | LIVEX 2026, ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi, 29 September to 1 October 2026 |
| Launch date | not published |
Real-time bus management: what the AVM system does
According to the release, the Automated Vehicle Management system will give Abu Dhabi Mobility real-time monitoring of buses and journeys. The stated operational goals are better schedule adherence, more efficient fleet and service management, higher operational reliability, data-driven decision-making and better use of resources.
In practice, AVM is the control layer of a bus network: it shows where each vehicle is, whether it runs on time and how a route performs over the day. The centre links the project to future planning of mobility networks in line with the emirate’s population and economic growth, and to the use of artificial intelligence in service management and operations.
Fare payment: bank cards, digital payments and QR codes
The second part of the project is an advanced digital AFC system. The release says it will simplify payment procedures and offer more flexible payment options, including bank cards, digital payment methods and QR codes. The system will also generate operational data to support service development and efficiency improvements.
Today, fares on Abu Dhabi public buses are paid with the Hafilat smart card. According to Abu Dhabi Mobility, the card costs AED 10 and is valid for five years. The fare is deducted automatically when the passenger passes the card validator at the bus entrance and exit, and it depends on the distance between the boarding and alighting stops: AED 2 for a local trip inside the city and AED 2 plus 5 fils per kilometre for a regional trip. Personalised passes are issued against an Emirates ID.
The release does not say whether the new system will replace Hafilat or work alongside it, and it does not name the date from which buses will accept bank cards or QR codes. Until Abu Dhabi Mobility announces the rollout, the Hafilat card remains the way to pay.
Who is Conduent
The contract was awarded to Conduent Business Solutions S.A.S., a French company that is part of the global Conduent Group. The release describes it as a specialist in smart mobility solutions and electronic fare collection systems, with more than 50 years of experience in the field and solutions deployed across more than 400 public transport networks in over 20 countries. In Abu Dhabi it will support the development of smart fare collection and the management of public transport operations.
Dr Abdulla Hamad AlGhfeli, Director General of the Integrated Transport Centre, said the project “represents a strategic investment in developing the digital infrastructure of Abu Dhabi’s public transport system” and that, through transport management systems and smart fare collection, the centre is “strengthening our data-driven decision-making capabilities”.
What has not been disclosed
The announcement fixes the budget, the contractor and the scope, but several practical details are still open:
- the start date and the phases of the rollout across the bus network;
- how many buses and routes will be equipped in the first stage;
- which digital payment methods will be accepted and whether fares will change;
- what happens to the Hafilat card and existing passes;
- how the AED 300 million is split between the AVM and AFC systems.
We will update our coverage when Abu Dhabi Mobility publishes the rollout schedule.
Where the project fits
LIVEX 2026 was the first edition of the liveability exhibition in Abu Dhabi, and the DMT family of entities used it to present a series of projects. Our report on the opening day covers the more than AED 100 billion of projects and initiatives shown at LIVEX. On the road side, DMT confirmed at the same exhibition that the AED 2.85 billion first phase of the Mid-Island Parkway is due in 2027. The bus systems contract is the digital side of the same programme: it does not add roads or vehicles, but changes how the existing network is operated and paid for.
What changes for companies and residents
The project does not change licensing rules, government fees or visa procedures in Abu Dhabi. Its effect is operational, and it will show once the systems go live:
- Employees and visitors who travel by bus will be able to pay with a bank card or a QR code, without first buying and topping up a separate transport card.
- Employers that reimburse commuting costs may get card statements instead of top-up receipts once card payment is available.
- Real-time fleet data is intended to improve schedule adherence, which matters for staff who depend on buses to reach offices and industrial areas.
- For suppliers of payment, data and transport technology, the contract shows the scale at which Abu Dhabi Mobility procures digital systems.
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Conclusion
Abu Dhabi Mobility has committed more than AED 300 million to two digital systems for its buses: real-time fleet management and a fare collection system that accepts bank cards, digital payment methods and QR codes. The contractor is Conduent Business Solutions S.A.S. of France, which works with over 400 transport networks in more than 20 countries. The project was presented at LIVEX 2026 and announced on 2 October 2026. The launch date and rollout plan have not been published, so for now Abu Dhabi bus fares are still paid with the Hafilat card.
Source: Abu Dhabi Media Office, Abu Dhabi Mobility (Hafilat).
FAQ
Will Abu Dhabi buses accept bank cards?
Yes, that is the plan. Abu Dhabi Mobility has awarded a contract worth more than AED 300 million to Conduent for a digital fare collection system that accepts bank cards, digital payment methods and QR codes. The start date has not been published, so for now fares are paid with the Hafilat card.
How much does a bus trip in Abu Dhabi cost?
According to Abu Dhabi Mobility, a local trip inside the city costs AED 2, and a regional trip costs AED 2 plus 5 fils per kilometre. The fare is calculated automatically from the distance between the boarding and alighting stops. The Hafilat card itself costs AED 10 and is valid for five years.
Who is Conduent and what will it do in Abu Dhabi?
Conduent Business Solutions S.A.S. is a French company within the global Conduent Group, specialising in smart mobility and electronic fare collection. Its systems run in more than 400 public transport networks in over 20 countries. In Abu Dhabi it will deploy real-time vehicle management for buses and a digital fare collection system.
Does the project change anything for companies in Abu Dhabi?
It does not change licensing rules, fees or visa procedures. Once the systems go live, staff and visitors will be able to pay bus fares by bank card or QR code, and real-time fleet monitoring is meant to improve schedule adherence. Companies may see simpler expense records for reimbursed commuting.
