The e-Purse service was launched under the auspices of His Excellency Ahmed bin Abdul Nabi Macki, Minister of National Economy, and Lt Gen Malik bin Sulaiman Al Maamari, Inspector General of Police and Customs. The main aim of the ePurse solution is to allow both citizens and residents to store and load money in their National Identity and Resident Cards issued by the Royal Oman Police and use them as a mode of payment besides credit and debit cards. This not only helps government departments to collect payment for their services but also allows citizens and residents, who do not carry a debit or credit card, to transact electronically.

After activation of the chip imbedded in the national identity card and resident card, users can then electronically load the e-Purse with money at any Bank Muscat branch. Users may load a value from RO 5 up to RO 1000. Users also do not require a bank account to avail of this service. Once the e-Purse is loaded with money, it can then be used to make payments at all government offices. Once the money is exhausted the e-Purse can be loaded up again.

Now that the project has gone “live”, it becomes mandatory for citizens and residents to use the cards to pay for transactions such as fees with the Royal Oman Police. This solution will be rolled out progressively into 2010 with all banks in Oman participating in the ePurse initiative. At the same time, government agencies and retailers will be able to collect payment via the card.

Royal Oman Police – Civil Status System (National Registration System) received the prestigious global UN Public Service Award on 23rd June 2009 under Category 2: Improving the delivery of services. This award is the most prestigious international recognition of excellence in public service. It rewards the creative achievements and contributions of public service institutions that lead to a more effective and responsive public administration in countries worldwide.

Through an annual competition, the UN Public Service Awards promotes the role, professionalism and visibility of public service. Col. Abdullah bin Mohammed al Jabri, Acting Director General of Civil Services, received the UN Certificate of Recognition in behalf of ROP. The Oman official was including First Lieutnenat Yahya Al Hamimi, Head of Public Relation Department at the Directorate General of Civil Status - Royal Oman Police, Talal Al Rahbi, Chief and Shariffa Al Meskary, Manager, International Relations at the Information & Awareness Division of the Information Technology Authority.

The United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs facilitates the search for innovations in governance and public administration through the Public Service Awards Programme. This year, eight winners are awarded with the most prestigious recognition of excellence in the public service on 23 June, during the United Nations Public Service Day. The winners are public organizations from: Egypt, India, Poland, Republic of Korea, Slovenia, Sweden, Thailand and Zambia. The finalists are public organizations from: Canada, Oman, Republic of Korea and South Africa.

The Royal Oman Police (ROP) along with the Information Technology Authority (ITA) signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Bank Muscat and Gemalto for the implementation of the first phase (pilot phase) of the e-Purse application which will be integrated into the National Identity and Resident Card of the Sultanate. The signing ceremony was held on the 6th of January 2009, , H.E. Lieutenant General Malik Bin Sulaiman Al-Ma’mari, the Inspector General of Police and Customs signed on behalf of the Royal Oman Police and H.E. Mohammed Nasser Al Khasibi, Secretary General at the Ministry of National Economy and Chairman of ITA signed the MoU on behalf of ITA, Mr. Abdulrazak Ali Issa, Chief Executive of BankMuscat signed on behalf of the Bank, and Mr. Pierre Servettaz signed on behalf of Gemalto Middle East.

The main aim of the e-Purse is to permit both Citizens and the Residents to store /load money in their National ID and Resident Card and use this to make payments using electronic means, besides to credit and debit cards. This scheme will bring about greater benefits for all government entities that will collect payment for their services using the credit/debit cards and the e-Purse application residing in the National Identity and the Resident Cards. The first phase of the project i.e. the Pilot phase will be deployed with Bank Muscat for a period of 6 months, Bank Muscat will be responsible for the development and implementation of the Pilot phase. The Phase 2 open and allow all the banks in Oman to be able to join the system network. During this phase wider usage of the e-purse application by all the banks in Oman whether as acquirers or issuers will be possible.