Dubai Nol Card Guide: How to Buy, Use and Top Up

Dubai’s Nol card is a prepaid travel card for the city’s public transport network. For most visitors, the Silver Nol card is the simplest choice: it costs AED 25, includes AED 19 of credit, and charges AED 3, AED 5 or AED 7.50 according to how many fare zones a journey crosses. Buy one at a Metro station, keep at least AED 7.50 on it, and tap in and out at the start and end of each trip. Choose a Red Ticket if you only need a few rides or want a one-day pass; choose Gold only if you plan to use the Gold Class cabins on the Metro or Tram.

Fares and product details below were checked in October 2026. They can change, so confirm the price displayed at the ticket machine or office when you buy.

What is a Nol card?

Nol is Dubai’s contactless fare payment system. A card can be used on the Dubai Metro, public buses, Dubai Tram and selected marine transport services, including abra and ferry routes. The same stored-value card can also be used for some non-transport payments, such as RTA paid parking and participating retail outlets, but its main purpose for a visitor is getting around the city.

Dubai’s transport network uses seven fare zones. A trip’s fare depends on how many zones you pass through, rather than simply the distance between two stops. When you travel by Metro and connect to a bus, the system can count the legs as one journey if you tap in for the second mode within 30 minutes of checking out of the first. You still need to tap in and out correctly on each mode.

Public transport is cashless. Carrying a Nol card or a valid ticket is therefore essential if you plan to use the Metro, buses or Tram. A contactless bank card is not a substitute for a Nol card on these services.

Which Nol card should you choose?

The right option depends on how often you expect to travel, whether you need Gold Class, and whether you qualify for a concession. Tourists generally choose between Silver and Red.

Silver Nol card

Silver is the practical default for a holiday. It is a reusable card with stored value: each time you travel, the fare is deducted from the balance. The card costs AED 25 and starts with AED 19 credit, so you can begin using it without buying a separate ticket. It works across Dubai’s main RTA public transport modes and supports transfers between Metro and bus journeys.

An anonymous Silver card can be used immediately and does not require an application. It is valid for five years. The maximum balance is AED 1,000 for an anonymous card; a registered card can hold up to AED 5,000. If you are staying for a week or longer and expect frequent journeys, ask whether a travel pass would cost less than paying for every ride.

Gold Nol card

The Gold card has the same base purchase price and stored credit as Silver, but it gives access to the Gold Class cabin on Metro trains and the Gold Class section on the Tram. These areas have a higher fare. RTA’s fare structure charges a Gold fare on the Metro and Tram, while other transport modes do not have a Gold cabin.

Gold can make sense if the premium cabin is important to you and you expect to use it. For a typical sightseeing trip, Silver is usually more economical. Do not board a Gold Class cabin with a Silver card or a regular ticket; use the correct card or ticket and follow the cabin signs.

Red Ticket

The Red Ticket is a paper ticket for occasional use. It costs AED 2 to issue and can be loaded with up to 10 single trips or up to five one-day passes. It is valid for 90 days or 10 trips, whichever applies first. It is limited to one transport mode at a time, so it is less flexible than a Silver card when a journey involves transferring between Metro and bus.

A Red Ticket can be useful if you are only making a small number of journeys or prefer to pay for a one-day pass. The regular one-day pass costs AED 20, while the Gold version costs AED 40. It is valid for travel on Dubai Metro, Tram and public buses until midnight on the day it is used. If you are travelling on marine transport, ask at the ticket office which ticket product applies to your route.

Personal Blue Nol card

The Blue card is a personalised card for approved concession categories. These include eligible students, senior citizens and residents, People of Determination, and social affairs beneficiaries. The eligible categories and required documents vary. Discounts or free travel are tied to the approved personal card and cannot be claimed simply by buying a regular card.

For example, eligible students and senior residents receive reduced fares, while People of Determination can qualify for free travel on certain Dubai services. Visitors who need an accessibility-related concession should check the current application requirements before travelling. A Personal card is meant for the named holder and must not be shared.

nol Travel and digital options

RTA also lists a Nol Travel card for AED 100, including AED 19 of credit, with offers and discounts for tourists and residents. Check which benefits apply to your itinerary before buying one; it is not automatically a better transport purchase than Silver.

A virtual Nol card is available through Nol Pay on supported devices. If your phone is not compatible, use a physical card. Digital QR tickets are also offered for certain single trips and day passes, but they are ticket products rather than a physical Nol card. They may suit a traveller who does not want to carry a card for a short visit.

How much does the Nol card cost to use?

For a regular adult travelling with a Silver card, current single-journey fares are:

These are public transport fares, not the cost of buying the card itself. The Red Ticket’s AED 2 issue price is separate from the fare or pass loaded onto it. For most visitors making several journeys, the Silver fare is lower than the equivalent Red Ticket single-trip fare.

A “zone” is a fare area, not a neighbourhood name. A trip that starts and ends inside the same zone is charged at the one-zone rate. Crossing into a second adjacent zone uses the two-zone fare, while crossing more than two zones uses the all-zone rate. If you are unsure which category applies, check the station names or destination on the ticket machine before you pay.

Transfers are possible across Metro and bus routes. You must make the connection within 30 minutes of leaving one mode, and the full journey must remain within the allowed journey duration. RTA lists a maximum journey time of 180 minutes and up to three transfers. If a journey takes much longer than expected or you forget to tap out, the fare may not be calculated as you intended.

Is a travel pass worth buying?

A travel pass can be worthwhile if you plan several rides each day, but it is not automatically the cheapest option. Estimate your Metro, bus and Tram journeys first. If you will mostly walk around one area or use taxis for longer distances, a stored-value Silver card may be better.

For a seven-day adult pass, the published prices are:

The pass allows unlimited travel within its selected coverage for its validity period, but it does not cover intercity buses. An anonymous Silver or Gold card can carry a seven-day pass. Longer passes, such as 30-day, 90-day or annual products, require a registered card. As an example, a 30-day all-zone pass is AED 350 for Silver and AED 700 for Gold.

The Red Ticket’s one-day pass is another option for an intense sightseeing day. At AED 20 for regular class, it can be cheaper than paying separately if your trips would otherwise add up to more than that amount. The Gold day pass costs AED 40. The pass is valid until midnight, not for 24 hours from the moment you first tap, so avoid buying it late in the evening unless you have compared the cost with individual fares.

Where can you buy a Nol card?

You can buy an anonymous Silver or Gold card from ticket vending machines at Metro stations, or request one at a Metro ticket office. RTA authorised sales agents also sell cards. Ticket offices and machines are a convenient choice because you can buy the card and add credit in one stop. If your first journey starts at an airport Metro station, buy the card before entering the gates.

The Red Ticket is available from ticket vending machines and station ticket offices. Select the class, zone, number of trips or day-pass product carefully before paying. If you are unsure whether a pass covers the route you intend to take, ask the staff member at the counter before the ticket is issued.

A Personal Blue card requires an application and supporting documents. It is not the right option for a visitor who simply wants an ordinary transport card. If you have a valid concession, check eligibility and required identification before relying on the discount.

How to use the Nol card on Metro, bus and Tram

Use the same physical card throughout a journey. Hold it against the reader until you see the green signal or hear a beep. Avoid tapping your wallet if it contains several cards, because the reader may detect the wrong one or fail to register the transaction.

1. At a Metro station: Tap at the entry gate before going to the platform. At the destination, tap again at the exit gate. The card system uses both taps to calculate the journey fare.
2. On a bus: Tap the reader when boarding and tap out when leaving. Keep the card ready so you do not block the entrance while searching for it.
3. On the Tram: Tap before boarding and tap again after leaving. The Tram has open platforms rather than Metro-style gates, so remember to validate even when there is no barrier.
4. When transferring: Use the same card for each leg. If you are transferring between Metro and bus, tap in for the next mode within 30 minutes of checking out of the first one.
5. When choosing a cabin: Follow the signs for Silver, Gold, and women-and-children sections. A Gold ticket or Gold Nol card is needed for the Gold Class area.

Before boarding, check that your card has at least AED 7.50 available. A card with insufficient balance may be rejected even if the fare for the next short leg appears lower. A Blue card can have a different minimum-balance requirement, but ordinary visitors should use AED 7.50 as their working minimum.

How do you top up and check the balance?

You can add credit at Metro ticket vending machines and ticket offices, as well as through RTA-approved digital channels and sales agents. The minimum top-up amount varies by channel. If you want the money to be available immediately, a Metro ticket machine or office is a straightforward option.

Some online top-ups need time to reach the card. RTA advises that transactions made through certain website and app channels may require activation, usually after a waiting period of 45 minutes to four hours. Follow the activation instructions shown for your transaction, then tap the card on an approved device before you travel. Do not assume that payment confirmation means the balance is already available at the gate.

Check the remaining balance on a ticket machine, through Nol Pay if supported, or using RTA’s balance-check service. Top up before the card falls below AED 7.50, especially if you will be travelling from a busy station or transferring between modes. Keep the physical card dry and unbent, and hold it separately from other contactless cards when tapping.

Useful Nol card tips for visitors

• Use Silver unless you have a reason to choose another type. It gives most visitors a good balance of flexibility and lower fares.
• Keep every traveller’s card separate. Each passenger needs to validate their own trip. A personalised Blue card must only be used by its named holder.
• Tap out every time. This applies at Metro gates, bus exits and Tram validators. A missed tap can affect the fare charged.
• Plan around the zone count. A longer itinerary may cross more than two zones, so do not assume all trips cost AED 3.
• Treat a day pass as a calendar-day product. It expires at midnight on the day it is used.
• Do not use a standard Dubai pass for an intercity bus. Dubai travel passes exclude buses that travel between cities.
• Children aged five and under travel free on Dubai Metro, Tram and buses, according to the fare rules. Carry identification showing age if it may be needed.
• Keep Gold Class for Gold ticket holders. Check the cabin markings before boarding, particularly during busy periods.
• Hold on to the card if you may return. Silver and Gold cards remain valid for five years, so a stored-value card can be reused on a later Dubai visit.

Frequently asked questions

Can I use cash on Dubai public transport?

No. RTA public transport is cashless. Use a Nol card or another valid ticket product before boarding.

Which Nol card is best for tourists?

Silver suits most tourists because it works across Dubai’s main public transport modes and has lower standard fares than Red single trips. Red is useful for a small number of rides or a one-day visit. Choose Gold if you specifically want Gold Class on Metro or Tram.

What is the minimum balance needed to travel?

Keep at least AED 7.50 on a regular Nol card before starting a public transport journey. The reader may reject the card if the balance is below this amount.

Do I need to tap out of the Metro or bus?

Yes. Tap in at the beginning and tap out at the end of each ride. On a bus, tap the validator when boarding and again as you leave. On the Tram, validate both before boarding and after getting off.

Can one Nol card be used for a family?

Each person needs to validate their own journey, so one card cannot record several passengers entering or exiting together as separate trips. Buy a card or ticket for each traveller. Personal Blue cards are strictly for their named holders.

Can I use Nol outside Dubai?

Nol is designed for Dubai’s RTA transport services and selected participating services. A Dubai travel pass does not cover intercity bus journeys. Check the payment rules for a service outside Dubai before boarding.

Is a seven-day pass valid for all of Dubai?

You can buy a seven-day pass with one-zone, two-zone or all-zone coverage. The all-zone option is AED 110 for Silver or AED 220 for Gold. Passes do not include intercity buses.

What if my online top-up does not appear?

Some online transactions need activation after the payment is made. Check the transaction instructions and allow for the stated processing time. Activate the balance using an approved device before attempting to board.

A Silver card is a simple starting point for most Dubai visits: buy it at a Metro station, check that it has sufficient credit, and remember to tap both in and out. If your schedule includes many trips in one day or over a full week, compare the Red one-day ticket and zone-based travel passes with pay-as-you-go fares before purchasing.