Daily commuter
Sets a small top-up every week or two so the balance never runs out on the way to work. Saves the short walk to a station vending machine.
Hafilat top-up · Abu Dhabi
Top up Abu Dhabi bus card
An independent online service for hafilat recharge — top up bus card balances in a few minutes for Standard, Personal, Senior and Student cards used across Abu Dhabi city and Al Ain.
Processing in a few minutes
EN & AR
Abu Dhabi + Al Ain
04
card categories supported — Standard, Personal, Senior, Student
02
cities served by the hafilat network — Abu Dhabi and Al Ain
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languages on this site — English and Arabic (RTL)
24/7
top-ups can be started any time, day or night
How bus card recharge works on this site
Three short steps. No app to install, no account to register.
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Enter your card number
Type the 10-digit number printed on the front of your hafilat card. We use only the digits — your card is not charged here.
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Pick an amount
Choose a preset between AED 5 and AED 500, or type a custom amount that suits your travel plans.
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Pay and ride
Pay with any Visa or Mastercard issued in the UAE. The new balance is normally available within a few minutes.
The card
What a hafilat card is, in plain words
Hafilat is the contactless smart card used to pay fares on public buses across the Abu Dhabi Emirate — both city routes in Abu Dhabi and the wider network around Al Ain. The card is tapped against the reader when boarding; the fare is deducted from the stored balance.
The card itself is a thin plastic smart card with a printed 10-digit reference number on the front. That number is what you enter on this site when starting a top up bus card transaction.
There are four common categories. Standard (often called Silver) is the default card for everyone. Personal cards are issued in the holder's name and can be replaced if lost. Senior and Student categories give holders a reduced fare on eligible routes once their status has been registered.
Quick facts
- Network
- Public buses, Abu Dhabi & Al Ain
- Card type
- Contactless smart card
- Card number
- 10 digits, printed
- Top-up range
- AED 5 — AED 500
- Currency
- AED only
- Categories
- Standard · Personal · Senior · Student
Independent service. This site is not affiliated with the operator of the hafilat network.
Who tops up here
Three everyday hafilat recharge moments
Most riders top up between trips, not at the counter. These are the patterns we see.
Visiting family
A relative arrives, borrows a spare card, needs it topped up before the morning bus. A quick bus card recharge from a phone fits the moment.
Student schedule
A student card used to and from campus. A modest balance keeps things simple; a custom amount lets the household plan ahead by the term.
Online vs counter
Why riders choose online hafilat recharge
A side by side look at the everyday experience.
| Online (this site) | Counter or vending machine | |
|---|---|---|
| Where | Anywhere with a phone | Station, terminal, kiosk |
| When | Any hour of the day | Within opening hours |
| Queue | None | Sometimes |
| Cash needed | No — card payment | Often yes |
| Language | English & Arabic | Varies by location |
| Receipt | Sent by email if you ask | Paper, easy to lose |
In riders' own words
A few of the things people tell our support inbox.
"Easier than walking to the vending machine when it is hot outside. Took less time than getting changed for the bus."
— A regular commuter, Al Danah
"I top up two cards every payday — mine and my mother's. One screen, two minutes."
— A household account holder, Al Mushrif
Ready when you are
Top up bus card without a queue
Open the recharge form, type the card number, pick an amount, pay. Most people are done before the next bus.