More people take to ePay services in Dubai

DUBAI, UAE: The Dubai emirate's revenue through its ePay service registered a 60-percent increase to 1.1 billion dirhams (about $299 million) in the first half of 2010, it was announced Wednesday. ePay enables customers to electronically pay their bills and settle dues for various government services.

A total of 835,000 transactions were executed during the period. In the corresponding period last year, 700 million dirhams were collected through 712,000 transactions, reflecting an increase of 400 million dirhams.

However, number of government departments to offer the service remained fixed at 22 during the two periods.

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The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA) and Dubai Customs were the top three departments in number of transactions executed.

Ahmed Bin Humaidan, director general of Dubai eGovernment said: "These results clearly indicate favourable pace of e-transformation in Dubai and reflect ePay as a preferred mode of payment."

"This service allows both corporate and individual customers to complete ePayment for government services in three ways - credit cards, e-dirham and direct debit from the customer's account in participating banks," he added.