From next month you’ll be able to use your Emirates ID card to fill up your petrol tank in Abu Dhabi.

Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (which most of us know as Adnoc) is about to test a smart self-service system which means UAE residents will be able to fill their car tanks using their Emirates ID card. (Which is fantastic for those of us who have a tendency to forget our debit card.)

The seven month pilot phase of the programme will begin on March 1 and run across four Adnoc petrol stations in Abu Dhabi.

How will it work? Well customers register for an Adnoc Wallet account that is linked to their Emirates ID – they top up their ‘wallet’ and spend the money in it by swiping their Emirates ID. They will also be able to pay for things with their ‘Adnoc Wallet’ via radio frequency identification. You can then top up your Adnoc Wallet via a secure online payment gateway.

The aim of the programme is to reduce waiting time in petrol stations, and provide a seamless and secure payment process.

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This is another step toward making the Emirates ID one of the few cards that UAE residents need in their wallets – government workers in Dubai already use their Emirates ID as their medical insurance card, and many other residents are going to make this shift sometime this year. Some banks also let their customers withdraw cash from ATMs using their Emirates ID.

Interesting fact, the chip in your Emirates ID can store up to 32,000 letters of information. The card also has nine security features that make falsification of the card very difficult.

The four service stations where the trial will run are Rabdan Service Station in Al Mushrif, Al Nasr Station on Sheikh Zayed the First Street, Al Zafarana Service Station near Khalifa University and Al Qanah Service Station on Al Khaleej Al Arabi Street. The first 5,000 customers to register for the pilot service will receive the smart service’s tag and have it activated for free. You can register to trial the service here.

There’s no word yet on whether the service will be implemented in Dubai stations or other Abu Dhabi stations. The Adnoc trial finishes in October, at which point they’ll evaluate whether any changes need to be made before making the ‘smart wallet’ a permanent fixture.

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Photos: Supplied/Adnoc.