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

Cost: AED 25 (includes AED 19 e-purse value)
Validity: 5 years

Nol Gold Card

The Nol Gold Card has 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 for only AED 2. It can be loaded up to 10 times for single trips and 5 times for a day pass, making it perfect for non-frequent travelers and tourists.

Cost: AED 2
Validity: 90 days or 10 trips

How to use a Nol Card?

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

To check-in and use the desired transport system:

• 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 Metro gates or the bus/ water bus entrances
• 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 Metro gates or the bus/ water bus entrances
• 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 in different zones. The fare will be calculated and automatically deducted from your e-purse depending on the number of zones you travel to. 

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’s map is divided into 7 zones. Each zone contains Metro stations, Bus stations, Tram stations, and Water bus stations. You can travel using different modes of transport located in other 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 two visits 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, entitling holders to an unlimited travel period for 30 calendar days from purchase. 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 see your nearest metro/bus station and request the Nol Card monthly pass. Your monthly pass will be activated after you have paid the required amount.

Nol Card recharge online 

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

• Visit rta.ae/topup
• Enter your Nol tag ID and email address
• Confirm details and pay

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 anytime, with a minimum top-up 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.