In This Guide
Quick answer: Hafilat cards and cost
The Hafilat card is Abu Dhabi's smart card for public bus travel. Cards cost between AED 5 and AED 10 depending on type, and there are a few to choose from:
| Card | Notes |
|---|---|
| Anonymous | AED 10, no documents, valid up to 16 years |
| Personalized | Linked to Emirates ID, balance protected if lost |
| Student / Senior / People of Determination | Subsidised fares for eligible groups |
| Temporary | Short-term / visitor use, no documents |
Bus fares run from AED 2 and are capped at about AED 5 per journey. If you ride daily, a Personalized card (recoverable balance, plus any concession) beats an anonymous one. Abu Dhabi's Hafilat is the counterpart to Dubai's Nol card.
The card types
Anonymous
Costs AED 10, needs no documents, and is valid for up to 16 years. Ideal for visitors and casual riders — but it stores no personal details and offers no subsidised fares, and the balance is lost if the card is.
Personalized
Linked to your Emirates ID, so the balance is protected if the card is lost. A replacement costs AED 5, and your balance and any passes transfer to the new card at no extra charge. This is the card for residents who ride regularly.
Student, Senior and People of Determination
Concession cards for eligible groups, giving subsidised fares. You apply with the relevant proof of eligibility.
Temporary
A short-term card for visitors, bought without documents.
How to get a Hafilat card
- Bus station kiosks and vending machines across Abu Dhabi.
- Authorised sales points.
- Online / app for personalisation and recharge.
Anonymous and temporary cards can be bought on the spot with no paperwork. For a Personalized card you register with your Emirates ID (and proof of eligibility for a concession card) to get the name-linked, recoverable card.
How to recharge and check your balance
You can top up the card with a cash amount or buy a pass:
- Bus station machines and kiosks.
- Online and via the app (also to check your balance).
- Authorised retail points.
Recharge in pay-as-you-go amounts, or load a period pass for unlimited rides (below). Keep a small buffer so a tap is never declined at boarding.
Fares and unlimited passes
Single bus fares start at AED 2 and are usually capped at AED 5 per journey. For regular riders, Hafilat offers unlimited-ride passes over a set period — typically 7 days or 30 days — which cap your monthly spend if you commute daily.
The maths is simple: if you take two capped AED 5 journeys a day, five days a week, a 30-day unlimited pass usually pays for itself well before month-end. Load the pass onto a Personalized card so it is protected if the card is lost.
Hafilat vs Nol
Hafilat is Abu Dhabi; Nol is Dubai. They are separate systems — a Hafilat card does not work on Dubai transport and vice versa. If you commute between the two emirates you carry both, just as you need both Darb and Salik for the tolls. Both cards follow the same idea: an anonymous card for visitors, a personalised card for residents who want a protected balance and concessions.
Getting set up in Abu Dhabi?
A Hafilat card is a quick errand, but it usually lands alongside the bigger move-in list — Emirates ID, a Tawtheeq tenancy, ADDC utilities, a bank account. Getting those in the right order is what saves the time.
Wathim handles the Abu Dhabi residency and paperwork side so the rest slots in. Contact us, or read the related guides: the Dubai Nol card, the Tawtheeq tenancy guide, the ADDC move-in guide, and the Darb toll guide. Everything else is on the UAE services hub.
Frequently Asked Questions
Cards cost between AED 5 and AED 10 depending on type. The Anonymous card is AED 10, needs no documents and is valid for up to 16 years. Personalized and concession cards (Student, Senior, People of Determination) are registered to you; a Personalized replacement costs AED 5 with the balance transferred at no extra charge.
Anonymous (AED 10, no documents), Personalized (linked to your Emirates ID with a protected balance), Student, Senior Citizen and People of Determination (subsidised fares for eligible groups), and Temporary (short-term, no documents). Residents who ride regularly should use a Personalized card; visitors are fine with Anonymous or Temporary.
Single bus fares start at AED 2 and are usually capped at about AED 5 per journey. For regular commuters, Hafilat offers unlimited-ride passes over 7 or 30 days that cap your spend — a 30-day pass typically pays for itself if you take two capped journeys a day, five days a week.
Top up at bus station machines and kiosks, online or through the app (which also checks your balance), and at authorised retail points. You can add a pay-as-you-go cash amount or load a 7-day or 30-day unlimited pass. Load passes onto a Personalized card so they are protected if the card is lost.
Only with a Personalized card, which is linked to your Emirates ID — the balance is protected and transfers to a replacement (AED 5). An Anonymous card stores no personal details, so the balance is lost with the card. Carry a Personalized card if you keep meaningful credit on it.
No. Hafilat is Abu Dhabi's bus card and does not work on Dubai's transport, which uses the Nol card. They are separate systems, so if you commute between the two emirates you need both cards — just as you need both Darb and Salik accounts for the road tolls.
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