Nol Card: Everything You Need to Know About the UAE’s Public Transport Smart Card

Nol Silver Card

Nol Silver Card is a smart card with an e-purse that can be loaded with up to AED 1000 upon registering your card.
Cost: AED 25 (includes AED 19 e-purse value)
Validity: 5 years

Nol Gold Card

Nol Gold Card holds the same features as the silver card, but it gives you privileged access to the Metro’s gold-class seats for a premium fare.
Cost: AED 25 plus premium fare (includes AED 19 e-purse value)
Validity: 5 years

Nol Blue Card 

Nol Blue Card or Nol Personal Card is a personalized smart card with an e-purse that can be loaded with up to AED 5000. With a Nol Blue Card, travelers can take out subscriptions for 7 days, 90 days, and 300 days, eliminating the need to recharge the card.
Cost: AED 70 plus premium fare (includes AED 20 e-purse value)
Validity: 5 years

Nol Red Ticket

Nol Red Ticket is a paper-based ticket that can be bought from any ticket vending machine at any time for only AED 2. It can be loaded up to 10 times for single trips and 5 times for a day pass. This is perfect for non-frequent travelers and tourists.
Cost: AED 2
Validity: 90 days or 10 trips

Nol Special Design Card

The Nol Special Design Card is for those who like to have a more personalized card. You can choose from 16 designs inspired by the landmarks of Dubai and get it printed on your Nol Card.
Cost: AED 30
Validity: 5 years

Personalized Gold Nol Card

Personalized Gold Nol Card is similar to the Blue Card, but it also allows you to travel in the Gold Class on the Dubai Metro and Tram.
Cost: AED 80 (includes AED 20 e-purse value)
Validity: 5 years

Nol Travel Card

The Nol Travel Card, introduced on 10 June 2024, is a new Nol Card designed for tourists, residents, and citizens. It offers discounts of up to Dh17,000 on various products and services. According to the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), Nol Travel Card holders can use it for public transportation, parking, and other entertainment and experiences in Dubai.

The card provides discounts of five to 10 percent at hotels, shops, adventure activities, entertainment facilities, and other partner venues in the city. Initially, the Nol Travel Card will be available at Dubai International Airport (DXB) and select partner stores such as Zoom and Europcar.
Cost: AED 200 for a year with a balance of AED 19. The card can be renewed at the end of the year for AED 150.
Validity: 5 years

Please note that, as reported by the authorities, the existing Nol card users will not be able to switch to the newly launched Nol Travel Card at the moment.

How to use a Nol Card?

The Nol Card is quick and easy to use and means you no longer need to carry cash to get around the city.

To check in and use the desired transport system:

• please ensure your card maintains a minimum balance of AED 15 for round-trip metro travel or AED 7.5 for other forms of transportation.
• approach the gates of Metro or the entrances of the bus/ water bus. 
• place your Nol Card on the card reader.
• wait to hear a beep or look for the green light, which signals a successful check-in. 
• pass through the gate/entrance.

To check out after using the service:

• approach the gates of Metro or the entrances of the bus/ water bus.
• place your Nol Card on the card reader.
• wait to hear a beep, or look for the green light, which signals a successful check-out.
• pass through the gate/entrance.
• the gate will automatically calculate and the cost of your trip/journey based on the number of zones you have passed.

With your Nol Card, you can travel on Dubai’s Metro, buses and Water Buses, which have stations located at different zones. Depending on the number of zones you travel to, the fare will be calculated and automatically deducted from your e-purse. 

Nol Card balance transfer

Here’s how you can transfer your balance amount from one Nol Card to another:

• activate NFC technology on your phone
• install and open RTA’s Public Transport app
• choose Nol-to-Nol transfer
• tap the Nol Card, which has a balance behind your phone, and the app will read the balance on the card
• now tap the Nol Card, which needs to be recharged behind your phone
• the app will automatically display the box where you’ll be required to enter the amount to transfer
• once completed, the other Nol Card will be recharged

Zone system in Dubai

Source: rta.ae

Dubai map is divided into 7 zones. Each zone contains Metro stations, Bus stations, Tram stations, and Water bus stations. Your journey can be made using different modes of transport which are located in different zones. At the end of your journey, you will be charged according to the total number of zones you have passed. 

Please note traveling between two modes of transportation must be done within 30 minutes. You can travel by Metro and then take a bus to reach your final destination. After you check out from the metro station, you will have 30 minutes to check in on a bus. Having done this on time, your metro and bus trips will be charged as a single journey (you will be charged based on the total number of zones passed in the 2 trips combined).

Nol Card fare

Type	Silver Card	Gold Card	Personal Card	Red Ticket
Within 1 Zone	3 AED	6 AED	3 AED	4 AED
2 Adjacent Zones	5 AED	10 AED	5 AED	6 AED
More than 2 Zones	7.5 AED	15 AED	7.5 AED	8.5 AED
Student, Social Affairs & Senior Citizen and Residents	N/A	N/A	50%	N/A
People of determination	N/A	N/A	Free	N/A
Children (5 years old and below)	Free	Free	Free	Free

Source: rta.ae

Nol Card monthly pass

The Nol Card also offers monthly passes for Dubai residents, which entitles holders to an unlimited period of travel for 30 calendar days from the purchase date. The monthly pass covers traveling via metro train, bus, tram, and water bus. This applies to all zones.

To apply for the Nol Card monthly pass, please visit the RTA’s official website for the latest pricing and details. Alternatively, you can visit your nearest metro/bus station and request the Nol Card monthly pass. After you have paid the required amount, your monthly pass will be activated.

Nol Card recharge online 

Topping up the Nol Card can be conveniently done online, like most of the other services offered by the Smart Card. 

• visit rta.ae/topup. 
• enter your Nol tag ID and email address. 
• confirm details and pay. 

In order to activate the pending top-up, use your card at any online parking meter or metro gate after 45 minutes to 4 hours. 

Please note: You can conveniently recharge your Nol card at any time, with a minimum top-up amount of AED 20. The minimum balance required for the card is 7.5 AED, whereas a minimum of AED 15 is necessary to cover a round trip on the metro. For the anonymous card, the maximum allowable top-up is 1,000 AED, which increases to 5,000 AED after registration. 

Nol Card phone app

The Nol Pay app is an official app by RTA designed to help you keep track of your Nol Card on the go. With Nol Pay, you can:

• top up or add travel passes to your Nol Card using your phone anytime, anywhere
• check card information and manage it whenever you want

You can download the Nol Card phone app on PlayStore or AppStore.