All you need to know about nol cards in Dubai
Whether you are a resident of Dubai or a tourist visiting the city for the first time, public transportation is highly useful to get around the city. Dubai has quite a modern public transport system that aims to provide ease and comfort to the residents. The payment methods are also very simple and reliable here. People generally use nol cards in Dubai to easily pay for multiple types of public transport, including the metro, bus and RTA taxi. Let’s explore the many benefits and different types of Dubai RTA nol cards.
WHAT IS A NOL CARD?
nol card is a contactless smartcard capable of holding prepaid credit. It is used to pay for fares on public vehicles, including:
- Trams
- Ferries
- Buses
- Metro
- Abras
- Dubai waterbus
- Taxi
- Water Buses
Customers with an nol card are required to check in and check out their card at different electronic gates at the metro station or the electronic terminals on buses. The best feature of the nol cards is the online top-up facility. There are ticket offices and ticket vending machines in all metro and bus stations where you can buy or top up your nol card.
FEATURES OF DUBAI RTA NOL CARDS
The nol cards enable you to pay for various modes of public transport in Dubai with a single tap. Let’s take a look at the key features of these cards.
- The transactions via nol cards are secured, reliable and fast. It contains a temper-proof chip and an antenna to prevent fraudulent use of the card. It also helps in accurate fare calculation.
- The cards are easy to top up.
- You can purchase weekly, monthly, quarterly and annual bundles to enjoy unlimited travel via public transport in Dubai.
- nol cards allow you to also pay for RTA paid parking, public parks, Etihad Museum and more than 2000 shops around the city.
DIFFERENT TYPES OF NOL CARDS IN DUBAI
Let’s take a detailed look at the different types of the nol cards. The Dubai nol card prices depend on the type of card you pick.
SILVER CARD
The nol Silver Card is useful for frequent travellers in the city. The Silver Card is valid for all RTA transportation in Dubai.
- nol Silver card price: AED 25 with credit worth AED 19
- nol Silver maximum limit: AED 5000
- Anonymous limit: AED 1000
- nol Silver card validity: 5 years
GOLD CARD
The Gold nol card is ideal for passengers who want to have access to gold-class seats on any RTA public transport. The card can be used on all modes of transport registered with RTA, including bus ferries, buses, trams, and metro to name a few.
- nol Gold card price: AED 25 with credit worth AED 19
- nol Gold card maximum limit: AED 5000
- Anonymous limit: AED 1000
- nol Gold card validity: 5 years
PERSONAL NOL CARD
The Personal nol card in Dubai is one of the best cards out there! It provides you with the facility to recover your balance if you accidentally lose your card or it’s stolen. Moreover, the card allows you to enjoy concessions on fares along with a secure online service for easy credit top-up.
- Personal nol card price: AED 70 with credit worth AED 20
- Personal nol card maximum limit: AED 5000
- Personal nol card validity: 5 years
RED TICKET
The Red Ticket is primarily for those who need a temporary card. It is the best option for tourists visiting the city. It is ideal for visitors and tourists who are staying for more than 3 days.
The ticket is valid for metro, buses and trams. Other modes of RTA transport such as ferries, abras and taxis cannot be paid for with the Red card. With a Red card, users will be allowed to use a single mode of transport at a time.
- Red Ticket price: AED 2
- Red top-up limit: Rechargeable use for a maximum of 10 journeys or 5 daily passes
- Red Ticket validity: 90 days
NOL BLUE CARD
The nol Blue Card allows people of determination to travel free of charge on metro and buses. The card also offers national senior citizens, residents and students from all nationalities a 50% off.
DIGITAL NOL CARD
RTA launched the digital nol cards to make the commute easier. It allows the users to top up their balance at any time hassle free through the nol app.
FAQS ABOUT NOL CARDS IN DUBAI
HOW TO RECHARGE NOL CARD DUBAI?
You can top-up the card via the NOL Pay app, ticket offices, ticket vending machines and authorised sales agents.
HOW CAN I PAY THE FARE THROUGH NOL CARD?
Paying your fare via nol card in Dubai is easy. All you have to do is hold your card over the card reader and the reader will automatically validate your card. The fare will be deducted for the journey you took.
WHERE TO BUY NOL CARD IN DUBAI?
You can purchase nol cards from the ticket offices, and ticket vending machines at the metro stations, RTA customer happiness centres in Dubai and authorised sales agents.
CAN I PURCHASE THE NOL CARD ONLINE?
Yes, you most definitely can. All you have to do is download the nol Pay application using your UAE pass. Select Buy Virtual nol card, settle the fee by debit or credit directly or pay to the authorised sales agents later.
HOW LONG DO I HAVE TO WAIT TO GET MY NOL CARD?
The nol Pay app and the vending machines give you the card instantly. And if you’re applying through a sales agent or a ticket office machine, it takes about 3 minutes.
CAN I BUY AN NOL CARD ANONYMOUSLY?
Yes, you can do so via nol Pay app.
WHAT IS THE MINIMUM CREDIT LIMIT ON A CARD?
To avoid any hassle, make sure that your nol card has a minimum of AED 7.5 and the Red Ticket should have 1 single strip.
With this, we sum up our guide to nol cards in Dubai. Now you know which Dubai metro card is for you and how much each Dubai nol card costs along with its validity. Checking the credit on your nol card is simple, you can refer to our online balance enquiry in Dubai guide to learn how to check your nol card balance.
If you want to learn more about RTA Dubai, our guide contains all the necessary details.
Dubai has an excellent network and infrastructure for public transport. Several public transport apps in Dubai are assisting locals and tourists in their commute to popular locations and attractions in the city.
If you’re new to the city, Dubai Metro is convenient for anyone who is looking for a reliable and affordable commute within Dubai. If you don’t rely on public transport and prefer to drive, you need to familiarise yourself with RTA parking charges in Dubai.