The Nol card system issued by Dubai’s Roads & Transport Authority (RTA) will soon allow users to make mini payments in addition to paying for bus, metro, waterbus and paid parking services across the emirate.

This follows the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the RTA and the Smart Dubai Office.

The Nol card could be added to other existing electronic payment channels for the services provided by the Dubai Smart Government office, according to Aisha bint Butti bin Bishr, director-general of the Smart Dubai Office.

The MoU "intends to realise a host of targets such as endorsing the Nol card as a means of smart payment in Dubai,” the Dubai Media Office said.

A roadmap will be prepared for the extended use of the card as a means of payment for services across Dubai. Services will be further expanded in the future based on the economic feasibility of adding those services into the Nol platform.

The deal is being seen as a major step towards the emirate’s transformation into a smart city.

An independent study recently conducted by the US’ IBM has indicated that shared smart services saved the Dubai government AED4.3bn ($1.17bn) between 2003 and 2015, an average savings of close to $100m annually.