Dubai: The world’s first Smart Mall will be available in Dubai, Mattar Al Tayer, Director-General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), announced on Saturday.
Al Tayer said the initiatives will be launched at Gitex. He also unveiled several smart initiatives by the RTA, including the construction of 100 smart air-conditioned bus shelters offering complimentary internet access to public transport users.
He said the launch of smart services is in line with Dubai’s aim to become the “smartest city in the world offering services to the public via smart phones 24/7”.
He also said that 173 services are now offered through ten smart apps that can be used in various types of smartphones.
Smart Mall
The Smart Mall project allows Dubai Metro users to shop using interactive screens. Two people can carry out purchasing processes at a time, Al Tayer said. The initiative would be implemented in the following metro stations: Mall of the Emirate, Damac Properties, Dubai Internet City, Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank and Baniyas Station.
“The project’s implementation would be kicked off by selling food items, afterwards other products would be added such as clothes and electronics. Two smart kiosks would be deployed offering the same services in order to ensure the privacy of customers. Through the Smart Mall, the customer can select items required from those on offer, drop them in a shopping basket, and pay through a credit card. Items purchased would be delivered to the place and time selected by the customer. RTA is considering other payment options, such as NOL card, or the mobile phone (Etisalat Balance),” he said.
Smart kiosks
The RTA will also start the construction of 100 air-conditioned Smart Shelters for public transport users. About 50 stations would be constructed in the next two months, and the remaining 50 would be constructed in January.
“The Smart Kiosk offers a wide range of services to bus riders including a free Wi-Fi internet in cooperation with Du, NOL card selling and top-up services, mobile phone top-ups, payment of bills of government departments, recharging mobile phones service, smart kiosks, interactive ad screens, screens offering RTA’s services, and selling refreshments and snacks,” he said.
Smart apps
Among the new services to be launched in Gitex is the issuance of Personalised NOL Card (Blue, Silver and Gold NOL Card) directly through the use of the ID card. This service enables customers to cut short the time taken to issue personalized NOL Cards from 14 days to 15 minutes, Al Tayer said.
At Gitex, the RTA will also display the Smart Watches featuring NOL cards designed like watches or accessories usable by users instead of the plastic card.
The smart service offering to be exhibited by RTA at Gitex include the use of the ID card as NOL card through combined (duo) cards: Personalised NOL Card and Emirates ID Card.
Dubai Metro users can also pay the public transport fare through the combined ID card. RTA will also exhibit improvements made in its smart apps using NFC technology, including the debut of the NOL card that can be used in e-payments for smart services in RTA apps such as drivers and vehicles app, Salik services app, smart parking apps, and public transport app.
RTA will also display in Gitex the smart monitoring system; an e-system considered the first of its kind in the region, Al Tayer said.
The system enables tracking the performance of drivers and vehicles electronically without human intervention.
“RTA will also exhibit a system for eliminating defects of vehicles and maintaining the safety of roads. It involves the fitting of devices on heavy vehicles in Dubai, which help classify vehicles in terms of the degree of hazard,” Al Tayer said.
