It is feasible to travel without a wallet in the United Arab Emirates, depending on the phone you use and the cards you need on a daily basis. Certain IDs and passes are exclusive to iPhone users, whereas others can only be stored on Samsung and other Android phones.
Emirates ID:
Every resident should have their Emirates ID stored on their phone as it is significant part of a lot of tasks. Here's how to link your Emirates ID to your Apple wallet if you're using an iPhone:
- Get the UAE ICP application.
- Utilize your UAE Pass to log in.
- The "Emirates ID" app may be found under the Favourites section of the main dashboard. As an alternative, press the "Cards" button located at the dashboard's bottom.
- Your Emirates ID will be viewable in digital format. The "View QR Code" and "Add to Apple Wallet" buttons may be found when you click on the ID.
- Go to "Add to Apple Wallet" and tap.
Other Android phones, including Samsung phones, do not yet have this feature. On these cellphones, the digital version of the Emirates ID just has "View QR Code" displayed above it.
Credit and Debit Cards:
Phone wallets were primarily designed to hold bank cards, so if you own a debit or credit card in the United Arab Emirates, you may save it on your phone and access it even when you're not online.
To save your card, open your digital wallet app (available from Apple, Samsung, or Google) and tap the "plus" or "add" button. Since you'll need to enter all the information, you must keep the actual card close to hand.
Driving License:
Users of Samsung devices or iPhones can store their licenses in their wallets, but first they must download the RTA app.
- Open the RTA app
- Press the 'My docs' icon.
- Choose 'Licence' from the upper tabs.
- That's when your driver's license would show up. There'd be a "Add to wallet" button under the card.
*The procedure of integrating an ID into a phone wallet has not yet been implemented for those who own licenses issued in different emirates.
Vehicle License:
Car owners in Dubai can also store their license in their digital wallets by using the RTA app. All users need to do is select the license option from the "Vehicles" tab and select "Add to wallet." The license plate number, traffic file number, chassis number, and vehicle model are all displayed on the electronic wallet version of the license plate.
Boarding Passes:
Passengers can add their boarding tickets to their e-wallets on the best airlines in the UAE, Etihad and Emirates, but first make sure their device is compatible.
Users of Apple and Google wallets can download and store the pass with ease, according to Etihad's website confirmation.
Users of iPhones running iOS 6 or later, according to Emirates, can check in via their mobile app and store the pass in their Apple wallet. Simply select "Save to device" from the app.
Nol Card:
It would be ideal to obtain a digital Nol card and carry it in phone wallets for people who go around Dubai by bus and metro. Although this feature exists, currently only a small percentage of phones support it.
Huawei consumers are fortunate but their official website states that the following requirements must be fulfilled:
- The Huawei phone ought to be bought through an official channel.
- Version 9.0.11.324 or newer is the recommended version of the Wallet app.
- The phone model ought to be compatible with virtual Nol cards.
- A Huawei ID that is registered in the UAE should be used by the user to enter into the Wallet app.
- Make sure the AppGallery app's location is set to United Arab Emirates.
There are two ways to save the digital card in the wallet:
- To add cards, open the wallet and press the "+" button next to the transportation cards.
- Choose the transport card that you wish to include.
- Click on "add a new digital card."
- Decide on a top-up amount and pay the required cost.
Here's a another method:
- Select the '+' button next to the transportation cards when the wallet is open.
- Choose the transit card that you wish to add.
- To synchronise the data from the physical card, select 'Digitalise an existing physical card' and adhere to the guidelines.
- Press "Continue," then watch as the card gets digitized over the next five minutes.
Users of Samsung devices are limited to obtaining a digital Nol card through the Nol Pay app. (For a guide, click this link.)
Movie Tickets:
Vox Cinemas supports this feature. You could also use your wallet to save all of the e-tickets for the movies you've seen on the big screen, acting as a sort of memory bank.
