Hafilat Card: Price, Recharge, Balance Check and Passes
How the Hafilat card works on Abu Dhabi buses: price, where to buy and recharge it, balance checks, passes and fares.
The Hafilat card is the smart card you pay with on public buses in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Al Dhafra. You tap it on the reader when you board and again when you get off. The standard card costs AED 10 and is valid for 16 years (Abu Dhabi Mobility).
What does Hafilat mean?
Hafilat (حافلات) is Arabic for "buses". The singular, hafila, means a bus.
Where to buy a Hafilat card
Abu Dhabi Mobility sells the anonymous Hafilat card for AED 10 at:
- ticket machines (the Darbi website shows where they are)
- Abu Dhabi Co-operative Society (SPAR) and Al Ain Co-operative Society branches
- Lulu Hypermarket and Lulu Exchange branches in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and Al Dhafra
- Customer Happiness offices at bus stations and the airport
You can also apply online on the Hafilat website, then collect the card at a bus station or airport customer office with your application and payment receipt (Abu Dhabi Mobility).
Anonymous or personalised?
The anonymous card needs no ID. Its drawback is that if you lose it or it's damaged, the balance can't be moved to a new card, unless the card is linked to your Emirates ID. Residents can get a personalised card linked to their Emirates ID, which protects the balance and is needed for some discounts; apply through Abu Dhabi Mobility or at a bus station customer office.
Fares and passes
City and suburban buses charge AED 2 to board plus 5 fils a kilometre, up to AED 5 a journey. A change within 60 minutes doesn't add another AED 2. The Abu Dhabi bus fare calculator works out your fare.
| Pass | Price |
|---|---|
| 7 days, unlimited city travel | AED 35 |
| 30 days, unlimited city travel | AED 95 |
Children aged 10 and under travel free. Beneficiaries of the Abu Dhabi Social Support Authority and the Ministry of Community Development can buy the 30-day pass for AED 80 (Abu Dhabi Mobility). At AED 3 to 4 a trip, two trips a day reach the cost of a 30-day pass in two to three weeks.
How to recharge a Hafilat card
You can add credit or buy a pass at any ticket machine, at a bus station or airport customer office, and online. Abu Dhabi's online Hafilat services run through the Darb platform and the Darbi app, where you pay by bank card.
How to check your balance
Tap or insert the card at a ticket machine, and the screen shows the balance. In the Darbi app, add your card to see its balance and recent trips.
Minimum balance
You need enough credit for the trip when you tap in. A journey costs at most AED 5, so keeping at least AED 5 on the card covers any single city trip.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a Hafilat card?
AED 10 for the anonymous card, valid for 16 years.
Where can I recharge my Hafilat card?
At ticket machines, bus station and airport customer offices, or online through the Darbi app.
Can I use my Hafilat card in Dubai?
No. Dubai's buses and Metro use the nol card, and the E100, E101 and E102 buses between Abu Dhabi and Dubai take nol too. See the Abu Dhabi to Dubai bus guide.
What does Hafilat mean?
Buses, in Arabic.
Who do I contact about my card?
Abu Dhabi Mobility's service call centre on 800555.
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