The unified card will enable people to board metro trains and buses, as well as new modes of transportation.

Catching up quickly with its peers in the Arab world, Egypt has also triggered a construction boom, with almost 37 smart cities in the pipeline, among which the country's new capital near Cairo has been making waves globally. As some are in the planning stage and others are already being built across the North African nation, connected infrastructures and smart services will be deployed across the futuristic urban spaces, to transform lives of the country's residents.

Like any other country embracing digital innovation, Egypt also has plans to enhance its existing healthcare, security and public transport system, via online apps as well as smart devices to access services in a hassle-free manner. As part of this push, the country has unveiled a smart card which allows citizens to board any mode of transport, from railways to subways or buses, without having to buy a ticket separately during their daily commute.

The unified access pass will also be applicable for more innovative public transport mechanisms being developed across Egypt, that may soon emerge as a cluster of smart cities. The card, which is modelled after similar universal tickets being used in Canada and the UK, will come in handy when the Egyptian government launches the world's sixth largest network of high-speed electric trains, being built in the country.

Not only will this ensure added convenience for passengers, but it will also facilitate the seamless integration of buses and metro rail into a single, future-ready transportation network. In the new normal when social distancing is a priority, the smart card will cut down queues for tickets, hence avoiding crowds.

Similar initiatives had also been launched in the UAE late last year, in the form of virtual cards enabling people to use multiple public services through one platform. The introduction of AI into transportation, and the tests being conducted with driverless vehicles, have also raised the bar when it comes to convenience during the commute.