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Machines to enable taxi fare payments through credit cards

DUBAI - Passengers of Dubai Transport Corporation can conveniently pay the taxi fare through credit cards as soon as the credit card machines are installed inside taxis operating at the Dubai International Airport on September 15.

The corporation had recently signed a contract with MashreqBank whereby the latter will equip the 160 Dubai Transport taxis operating at the airport, as well as the 115 taxis operating within the emirates.

Mohammed Obaid Al Mulla, Director General of Dubai Transport Corporation, in a statement issued to Khaleej Times, said: "Within the coming two days, credit card machines will be installed inside airport taxis and this facility will be available during Dubai 2003." He added that the corporation's other partners in the project include Golden Media Infix (GMI), its official media agency that sells advertisement space and MasterCard, which will place advertisements on taxis.

"The credit card machines provided by MashreqBank will accept any credit card. However, MasterCard and Mashreq Bank card holders will not be charged any commission for every transaction," Mr Al Mulla said.

Meanwhile, the 160 taxis at the airport have been fitted with DVDs. Dubai Transport Corporation, in cooperation with the Dubai Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing, will have a documentary on tourism information about Dubai, which forms part of the promotional films, entertainment and videos that passengers can watch inside the taxis.

The corporation, which carried more than 20 million passengers between January and July, has witnessed steady increase in the number of people who used the Dubai Transport fleet across the emirate.

Its 2500-strong taxi fleet and its 92 inter-emirates buses have undertaken more than 8,000 trips over the past seven months, carrying passengers across the city and into other emirates.