Infotech Lead Middle East: Dubai eGovernment Department’s online payment services through Internet and mobile phone have collected over AED 2 billion in the first half of 2012 representing 21 percent increase over the previous year.
ePay enables customers to electronically settle their dues for various Dubai government services in a secure manner.
Over AED 2.07 billion through 1,641,556 transactions was collected through ePay on behalf of all the participating local entities by the end of June 2012. This compares to a total of AED 1.7 billion through 1,396,973 transactions in the first half of 2011.
Dubai Customs, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority, Dubai Health Authority, Department of Economic Development and Roads & Transport Authority were the top five government entities respectively in terms of the electronically collected amounts, while DHA, DEWA, RTA, Dubai Customs and Dubai Police were the top three government entities respectively in terms of the number of transactions achieved.
“These results clearly indicate the favorable pace of eTransformation in Dubai as reflected by the increasing adoption of ePay as a preferred mode of payment to complete government transactions on one hand and the higher degree of confidence shown by customers in the efficiency and safety of this option on the other,” said Ahmed Bin Humaidan, director general of Dubai eGovernment.
This service allows both corporate and individual customers to pay online for government services either through credit cards or direct debit from the customer’s account in the five participating banks; namely, Commercial Bank of Dubai, Dubai Islamic Bank, Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank, Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank and Union National Bank.
Payment through credit cards was still the customers’ top preferred option with the amounts electronically collected through credit cards exceeding AED 1.8 billion. The use of direct debit option grew noticeably during the first half of this year with the amounts collected through this option growing to around AED 247 million through over 450,000 transactions.
Meanwhile, a total of AED 3,215,442 through 15,645 transactions was collected through the Dubai eGovernment mobile payment gateway mPay in the first half of 2012. Currently, a number of government entities are participating in this service, which is done by sending an SMS to 4488 to inquire about and settle due fees or amounts. The service covers Salik recharge from RTA, payment of traffic fines from Dubai Police and payment of electricity bills from Dubai Electricity and Water Authority.
