United Arab Emirates
Nol Card (RTA)
Dubai's unified transport and micro-payment card from the RTA. Tap on Metro, bus, tram, water bus, parking meters and a growing list of Nol-enabled retailers.
Overview
The Nol card (rta.ae) is the Roads and Transport Authority's stored-value card for the Dubai public transport network, accepted on Metro, bus, tram, water bus, and at thousands of Nol-enabled retailers including supermarkets, fast-food outlets, and parking meters. Nol is the single payment instrument for any non-car movement around the city, and it is the most-used cashless payment system in Dubai outside the bank card networks.
There are four Nol card types. The Silver Nol (AED 25 issuance, AED 19 credit) is the standard card for daily commute and the default choice for residents. The Gold Nol (AED 25 issuance, AED 19 credit) gives access to the Gold Cabin on Metro and Tram with double the standard fare. The Personal Nol (AED 70, includes Emirates ID-linked photo card) gives access to monthly passes and is recommended for daily commuters. The Red Ticket (AED 2 issuance, top-up per trip) is the basic paper card for visitors. The cards work with the Metro tap-in-tap-out model where the fare depends on the number of zones travelled.
Three operational points matter. First, Nol balance can also be used at parking meters across Dubai, which makes the card a parking payment instrument for resident drivers who do not want coins. Second, Nol balance can be topped up through the RTA app, DubaiNow, vending machines at every Metro station, and Nol kiosks across the city, with auto-top-up linkable to a credit card. Third, Salik and Nol are not the same card; Salik is the road toll system, Nol is the transport-and-retail card, and they have separate accounts and separate top-up flows even though both ultimately belong to the RTA. Confirm specific fare zones and product features on rta.ae.
Services offered
- Metro, bus, tram, water bus payment
- Parking meter payment
- Salik top-up linkage
- Retail payments at Nol-enabled merchants
How to access
1. Buy a Nol card
Buy at any Dubai Metro station, any Nol kiosk, the RTA service centres, or many supermarkets. Silver Nol for general use, Gold Nol for the Gold Cabin, Personal Nol for monthly passes with Emirates ID linkage. The card is delivered immediately and can be used straight away after a small top-up.
2. Top up the card
Add credit at the vending machine, the kiosk, or the RTA Dubai app. Minimum top-up is typically AED 20. Keep the balance above AED 7 to cover the maximum single Metro trip and avoid getting stuck at a gate.
3. Tap in at every gate or reader
Tap the card on the green disc at Metro and Tram gates and at the front-door reader on buses. Tap out at the destination Metro gate or at the rear-door bus reader. Failing to tap out charges the maximum fare for the route.
4. Buy a monthly pass on a Personal Nol
Open the RTA Dubai app or visit a Metro service desk, select the number of zones (1-7), and purchase the monthly pass. The pass overlays the card balance: trips within the chosen zones are free until the month ends; trips outside the zones deduct the standard fare.
5. Replace a lost or damaged card
Personal Nol cards can be blocked and replaced with the remaining balance transferred at any RTA service centre using Emirates ID. Silver and Gold cards are anonymous; replacement is a fresh card with no transfer.
FAQs
Nol is the public transport and retail micro-payment card, accepted on Metro, bus, tram, water bus, at parking meters, and at Nol-enabled retailers. Salik is the automatic road toll system for private vehicles passing under 13 toll gates in Dubai. They are separate accounts run by the RTA umbrella with no shared balance.
Silver and Gold Nol are AED 25 (AED 19 credit + AED 6 card cost). Personal Nol is AED 70 with photo ID. Red Ticket is AED 2 per ticket plus per-trip top-up. Confirm prices on rta.ae as they occasionally adjust.
Standard fare ranges from AED 3 for a single zone to AED 7.50 for a multi-zone trip. Gold Cabin doubles those amounts. Bus and tram are flat fares. Monthly passes work out cheaper for daily commuters.
Most RTA-licensed taxis accept Nol as one of the payment options through the in-cab reader, though credit card and digital wallet are more common. Hala and other ride-hailing services run through their own apps and do not accept Nol.
Yes through the RTA Dubai app or the DubaiNow app, with a saved credit card. The top-up reflects on the next tap-in within Dubai. The physical kiosks of course require physical presence.
Personal Nol is a photo-bearing Nol card linked to your Emirates ID. It enables monthly passes, allows the balance to be transferred if the card is lost, and gives access to certain discounted fares for students, senior citizens and people of determination. For any resident commuting daily it pays back quickly.
Personal Nol balance can be refunded at any RTA service centre with Emirates ID. Silver and Gold Nol are anonymous and the balance is not refundable, but the card can be passed on to a friend.
No. Nol is Dubai-only. Abu Dhabi Integrated Transport Centre runs its own Hafilat card, and Sharjah has its own Sayer card. Each emirate's transport authority operates a separate system.
Related paperwork
Other services you may need in United Arab Emirates
These often come up alongside this transaction. Each guide has the same country detail.
Guides from the blog
Walkthroughs that use Nol
Step-by-step guides for the most common transactions on this portal.
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