Unlocking Convenience: Your Complete Guide to the Dubai Nol Card

Welcome to the dynamic city of Dubai, where seamless transportation meets unparalleled convenience, thanks to the Nol card! This is your all-in-one solution for navigating Dubai’s extensive public transport network and beyond.

Imagine using your Nol card to board a bus, board the Dubai Metro, or ride a water bus all with just one tap. Yes, that’s how easy it is! However, the Nol card’s benefits go beyond transportation. Your Nol card covers you when parking your car, grabbing a meal, or shopping for essentials at a pharmacy. We’ll guide you through selecting the best card among the available options, fare zones, and simple recharging techniques. Let’s dive in and explore the world of the Nol card together. Happy exploring!

What is the Dubai Nol Card?

The Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) designed the Nol smart card, which represents “fare” in Arabic. The NOL card is a contactless smartcard that can be used to conveniently access all municipal public transportation. It is rechargeable and sized like a credit card. It was released for all modes of public transport services in Dubai in August 2009. Please be aware that there are no cash payment options available for public transportation in Dubai.

Benefits of Using a Nol Card

In Dubai, the Nol Card provides a practical one-stop shop for all of your transit needs and more. Beyond transportation, it offers several advantages:

• Retail Purchases: The NOL Card eliminates the need for cash or debit cards at over 5000 stores, including Lulu hypermarket, Carrefour, Burger King, Aswaaq, Circle K, Zoom, and Gloria Jeans.

• Cab Fares: Users can swipe their NOL Card to avoid worrying about exact changes for cab journeys; however, there is a Dh 1 service fee.

• Park entrance: The card makes park trips hassle-free by granting entrance to well-known green areas like Mushrif Park, Zabeel Park, Mamzar Park, and Creek Park.

• Parking Fees: By using the NOL Card in ticket vending machines, cardholders can easily pay for parking in all paid parking lots in Dubai.

Types of card

You can utilize buses, water taxis, and the metro with four different kinds of top-up cards. The Nol Cards—Silver, Gold, Red, and Personal. The best cards for travelers are the Red Nol Card and the Silver Nol Card.

Red Card

The Red Nol Card is ideal for occasional travelers. The Red Nol Card is a paper-based ticket, unlike other Nol Cards. This card costs 2 AED, and you can load just how much you need for the journey. You can get the Red Nol Card from any ticket vending machine. Customers that buy this are limited to using it on RTA transportation, including as buses, trams, and metro.

Maximum balance: You can recharge your ticket for up to 10 trips or 5 daily passes.

Validity: 90 days or 10 trips are allowed with this ticket.

Silver card

The Silver Nol card is the most widely used card, with many passengers using it every day. This card, known as the “regular” card, can be used in both non-transport and RTA services. Purchasing this card is highly recommended if you are traveling to Dubai and will be staying there for longer than five days. In addition, a weekly pass and Silver Nol card are available for 110 AED. It offers convenient transportation for up to 7 days. Depending on your package, you can visit multiple zones.

Cost: 25 AED is the price of the Silver Nol Card card. A preloaded balance of 19 AED is included with this purchase.

Maximum balance: Personalized cards connected to an Emirates ID can hold up to Dh5,000, whereas anonymous users can only load their cards up to Dh1,000.

validity: 5 years.

Gold card

On the metro and tram, passengers with Gold Nol cards have access to a dedicated cabin. Even though they get access to Metro’s Gold Class cabin, these fares cost twice the standard fare for each trip. It offers the same access as a Silver Nol card to all RTA transportation modes. If there are no gold-class cabins with a particular mode of transport, one will be charged a regular fare.

Price: Like the Silver Nol Card, the Gold Nol Card costs 25 AED and also includes a preloaded 19 AED.

Maximum amount: Similar to the Silver Nol Card

Validity: 5 years

Personal card

The Personal Nol card, sometimes known as the “blue” card in informal usage, provides a 50% fee reduction to several categories of individuals, including students, older citizens, and people of determination. It is better for locals than for visitors to use. Unlike the other two cards, this one lets customers get their money back in case their card gets lost or stolen. With this card, you can use any of the RTA’s transportation options. It also includes the Etihad Museum, public parks, and over 2000 stores around Dubai. You can apply for personal Nol cards online or through the Nol Pay application.

Price: For AED 70 (which includes the value of an e-purse of AED 20), you can obtain this card.

Max balance: Users can top up to Dh5,000 using these cards.

Validity: 5 years

NOL card Fares

• The lowest fare is for short journeys of up to 1.8 miles, which allows you 1 transfer for up to 90 minutes. For silver cards, the cost is 3 AED and for red cards, it is 4 AED.

• For trips lasting up to 180 minutes, there are a maximum of three transfers and a maximum of two travel zones. For silver cards, the fee is 5 AED, and for red cards, it is 6 AED.

• For trips lasting up to 180 minutes and up to three transfers in an area that exceeds two zones, the cost is 7.50 AED for silver cards and 8.50 AED for red cards

• For Gold cards, the cost per journey is double that of silver card

Where can I get the NOL card?

• All metro stations and some bus stations have ticket counters where you may buy NOL cards.

• Silver Nol Cards and Red Nol Cards can be purchased from some Ticket Vending Machines

• Nol Silver Cards are also available in Dubai through RTA Customer Service Centers and RTA-authorized sales partners.

How do I use a Nol Card?

Your card must have a minimum balance of AED 7.50. Approach the bus or water bus entrances or the Metro gates. Place your NOL card on the card reader. The fare will be deducted from the balance on the card. Wait to hear a beep or look for the green light which signals a successful check-in. Proceed through the entryway or gate. The same thing must be done when you’re leaving.

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Before stepping on the bus, you need to scan this card at the start and end of the trip, to ensure you pay the correct fare. If you don’t scan your Nol card before getting off, you’ll be charged the full fare.

Nol card Recharging options and methods:

Your Dubai travel card now has multiple methods to top up when the balance becomes low:

• At any Ticket Vending Machine at metro stations, bus stations, or other RTA service centers. (keep in mind that a ticket office now requires a minimum top-up of AED 20). 

                                                        

• Download the Nol Pay application, then top up with your debit or credit card. You can use your banking app to top up your NOL card.
• Online through the RTA website
• Any authorized NOL Card recharge outlet, which includes places like ZOOM, Circle K, Aswaaq, and more. Some grocery stores also offer Nol card recharge.

Which Nol Card is best for tourists? 

If you intend to visit for longer than five days, we strongly advise tourists to purchase a Silver Nol Card, as it costs 1 AED less on any trip than a Red Nol Card.

Penalties to Remember

The RTA has put policies in place to promote the thoughtful application of the innovative NOL Card. You should be aware that there are penalties for several NOL Card-related infractions if you use public transportation in the city.

You will be required to pay an AED 200 fine if you do not provide your NOL Card when asked. If you use a valid card that has expired or is invalid, the same amount will be charged.

DO’S AND DONT’S:

• Make sure you check out to avoid being overcharged.
• Make sure your NOL card has a minimum of AED 7.5.
• Make sure your nol red ticket has a minimum of 1 single trip.
• If a reader rejects your Nol card, try again once the warning light has stopped flashing.
• Ensure that nobody else uses your Nol Blue Card rather than you.
• Report the loss of your Nol Blue card as soon as possible by calling RTA customer service at 800 90 90.
• Never hold more than one Nol Card at once above a reader.
• Avoid holding your NOL card over a reader too quickly as this can result in an incomplete transaction. In these situations, tap the same Nol card as needed until the transaction is finished. 

Future Developments and Upgrades

The Nol card-based ticketing system in Dubai will soon be upgraded to an account-based system with central wallet technology, for Dh350 million. The gradual implementation, which includes facial recognition and artificial intelligence, is scheduled to be finished by the end of 2025. Users can able to attach several cards to a single account, even though the current physical or digital card system will not be changed. With the help of centralized transport fare wallet technology, the new system will provide a digital payment platform.

All things considered, the NOL Card is more than just a travel card; it’s your pass to effortless movement and ease in Dubai. Daily chores like parking your car, making purchases at stores, and catching the bus are made simpler with the NOL Card. Due to the abundance of online and offline recharge options, maintaining the balance on your card is now simpler than ever. Embrace the future of smart mobility by making the most of this simple card. When traveling and living in Dubai, the NOL Card can make things easier. Put it in your pocket!