Nol Card (RTA)
Dubai's unified transport and micro-payment card from RTA. Tap on Metro, bus, tram, water bus, parking, and Nol-enabled retailers.
On this page
Launched
2009
Operator
RTA Dubai
Cost
Silver/Gold card AED 25
Languages
Arabic, English
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.
For Dubai residents Nol is the daily transport and micro-payment card from the RTA: Metro, bus, tram, water bus, plus parking meters and many retailers. The 2026 pattern: pick Silver for daily commuting (most flexible), Gold for occasional Gold-class Metro use, or the digital Nol within the RTA Dubai app for those who prefer phone-tap. Pair Nol with Dubai Now for top-up convenience and Salik for the broader RTA stack. Note Nol and Salik are separate accounts despite both being RTA products. Country context at our UAE country guide.
What changed and matters operationally in 2026: digital Nol within the RTA Dubai app and the Apple Wallet/Google Wallet integration mean many residents now tap-with-phone rather than carrying the physical card; auto-recharge from credit card or DubaiNow makes balance management routine; Nol now accepted at most parking meters across Dubai, removing the cash-only friction for residents with metered street parking near home or office.
For commuters who also use Salik daily, the consolidated RTA driver file view in Dubai Now shows both balances side by side.
Services offered
Metro, Bus, Tram, Water Bus Tap-In
Tap the card at the gates or readers to deduct the fare. Metro fare depends on number of zones (AED 3-7.50 standard). Bus and tram use a flat fare. Always tap out at the destination or you will be charged the maximum fare.
Monthly Pass
Available on Personal Nol cards. Pre-purchased number of zones for a fixed monthly price, with unlimited trips inside the chosen zones. Saves money for daily commuters versus pay-per-trip.
Parking Meter Payment
Use the Nol card balance at street parking meters across Dubai. Same balance, no separate parking account needed.
Retail Payments
Tap the card at participating retailers (Carrefour, McDonald's, Bin Sina pharmacy and a long list). The fee is a small per-transaction service charge built into the merchant rate.
Top-Up Channels
Top up at any Metro station vending machine, any Nol kiosk, the RTA Dubai app, the DubaiNow app, or many UAE bank apps. Auto-top-up can be linked to a saved credit card.
How to access Nol
- 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.
Troubleshooting
The errors residents hit most often on Nol, and the fix that works.
Top up via RTA Dubai app, Dubai Now, or at any vending machine. Enable auto-recharge to prevent recurrence.
If registered with RTA account, balance is recoverable via card replacement at any RTA Customer Happiness Centre. If unregistered, balance is forfeit.
Re-link from RTA Dubai app > Nol > Add to Apple Wallet. Apple Pay must be set up on the device first.
Retailer's terminal may not be Nol-enabled for the specific transaction type. Use a different payment method.
Card may have expired or daily limit reached. Update card details in RTA app or use a different funding source.
Some meters are still cash-only. Check the meter sticker for Nol logo. Most paid parking areas in Dubai accept Nol since 2024.
Silver cards default to Silver fare. Upgrade to Gold card or set Gold fare in digital Nol within RTA app.
Frequently asked questions
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.
Digital Nol via Apple Wallet or Google Wallet is the most convenient for residents with NFC phones - tap-to-pay works on Metro gates, buses, and most parking meters. The downside is battery drain at the end of a long day can leave you unable to tap. Physical Silver is the most flexible fallback because it works regardless of phone battery, can be lent to a guest, and is accepted at every Nol-enabled retailer. Most regular commuters carry the physical card AND have digital Nol set up, using whichever is convenient. For Gold-class Metro use, the Gold card is required if using physical; digital Nol can be configured for Gold fares within the RTA app. Auto-recharge is essential - a Nol balance below the fare gate value rejects at the Metro turnstile.
Open the RTA Dubai app > Nol > Auto Recharge. Set the trigger balance (e.g., AED 20) and recharge amount (e.g., AED 50, 100, or 200). Link a debit/credit card or Dubai Now wallet. Auto-recharge fires when balance drops below the trigger and tops up to the recharge amount. Maximum stored balance on Silver is AED 1,000; Gold is also AED 1,000. The auto-recharge prevents the most common Nol failure (balance below fare at gate); set it before any travel day. The same auto-recharge mechanism applies to digital Nol. For corporate cards on company accounts, monthly statements show every Nol transaction for expense claims - useful for VAT recovery on business travel.
Guides from the blog
Walkthroughs that use Nol
Step-by-step guides for the most common transactions on this portal.
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