A Nol card (Arabic for "fare") is Dubai's contactless transit payment card, issued by the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) since 2009. One card pays for the Dubai Metro, Dubai Tram and public buses — including the intercity E-routes to Sharjah, Ajman and Abu Dhabi — plus the water bus, RTA paid parking zones, taxi fares and entry to some public parks.
There are four main types:
- Red ticket — AED 2 paper ticket for visitors, rechargeable for up to 10 trips on a single mode; per-trip Metro fares are higher (AED 4–8.50);
- Silver — AED 25 including AED 19 credit; the standard commuter card;
- Gold — AED 25 including AED 19 credit, with access to Gold Class Metro and Tram cabins at roughly double fares;
- Blue — AED 70 personalised card with photo ID, balance protection if lost, concessionary fares for students, seniors and People of Determination, and a top-up limit of AED 5,000.
Standard fares are zone-based across Dubai's seven transport zones: AED 3 for one zone, AED 5 for two and AED 7.50 for three or more, with daily spending on Silver and Blue cards capped at AED 14. One common misconception: Nol balance cannot pay Salik road tolls — Salik runs on a separate prepaid account tied to your vehicle's plate.
