Dubai residents could soon be able to make Salik topup payments using their mobile phones, Dubai e-Government and Etisalat revealed yesterday.

"We are coming up with a mobile payment system enabling you to pay for government services from your mobile and we are already in discussions with the RTA (Road Transport Authority) regarding [mobile phone payments] for Salik," says Ahmed Abdulkarim Julfar, Etisalat COO.

The partners signed a memorandum of strategic partnership (MOSP) at GITEX and will work to deliver a range of ICT solutions to government units in the UAE and across the region. Dubai e-Government eServices director, Salem Al Shair, says a number of initiatives in addition to mobile payment (mPayment) are already in the pipeline. One of the existing services that will be integrated into the joint venture is Etisalat's eZeePay system, which will be extended to cover government department payments, allowing the public to transact with the government through any bank with an eZeePay facility.

Dubai e-Government estimates that the saving accrued by making an e-transaction is AED 35 ($9.50) per transaction, based on the cost of fuel and travel.