Nol Card

The Nol Card (Arabic: نول, lit. fare, stylized as nol) is an electronic ticketing card that was released for all modes of public transport services in Dubai in August 2009.

Nol Card

Nol Card
Native name	نول
Location	Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Launched	August 2009; 16 years ago (2009-08)
Technology	Near field communication (NFC)
Manager	Roads and Transport Authority (Dubai)
Currency	AED (20.00 minimum load, 5000 maximum load)
Auto recharge	Online recharge and purchase of all cards
Unlimited use	One Day Unlimited Pass (red ticket only)
Validity	Dubai Metro Dubai Tram Dubai Bus Dubai Water Bus Dubai Taxis
Retailed	Online (Blue Card only) Vending machines (for red ticket) Ticket offices Authorized Sales Agents RTA Customer Service Centers
Website	Official Website (in English)

A Nol Card is a credit-card-sized stored-value contactless smartcard that can hold prepaid funds to pay for fares on buses and trains within one or more of four "zones". These funds can be transferred online or at RTA customer happiness centers.^[1] The credit must be added to the card before travel.^[2] Passengers "tag on" and "tag off" their card on electronic gates at the metro station or electronic terminals in buses when entering and leaving the transport system in order to validate it or deduct funds. Initially, the cards can be purchased only from Metro Stations, Bus Terminals and some Bus Stop ticket machines. These prepaid cards can be "topped-up" online, at ticket machines, or at ticketing offices by credit, debit card or cash. This card is designed for single, convenient, and cash-free payment system for Dubai's public transport at ticket offices and the number of paper tickets. it also provide discounts to travellers aspecially it offers discounts to the students on transports fares, although there is a fee to purchase the card. Unlimited one-day trip for the metro is only available with silver and gold card but no unlimited trips are available for any card. The Blue Nol Card is specifically designed for UAE national senior citizens and the disabled, also available for students .

The number of daily transactions of Nol cards currently tops 1.5 million transactions, which includes passengers’ entry/exit from Metro and bus stations, payment of parking fees, and recharging of cards. By 2012, RTA had produced more than 5 million Nol Cards since the day it was launched (August 2009).^[3] RTA also offers Refund nol Cards Balance if needed

Timeline

• In 2013, the Nol Card received the Best Prepaid Card award at the Smart Card Awards Middle East.
• On 26 September 2013, RTA announced the Smart Nol.
• On 21 August 2014, RTA increased the minimum balance from AED 1.80 (US$0.49) to AED 7.50 (US$2.04) to avoid journey interruptions.^[4]
• Between January and August 2014, sales of Nol Cards increased by 52%, according to the Roads and Transport Authority.^[5]
• On 21 October 2014, RTA announced new subscription package for the Nol Card.^[6]
• On 6 November 2014, RTA revised the public transport tariff, to take effect on 11 November 2014.^[7]

Usage

The Nol card can be used to pay the fare for travel on the metro, tram, buses and water buses, and for paid parking provided by the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA). The Nol card can also be used on taxis. Currently, only 8000+ taxis including airport taxis accept the Nol card. Starting in mid-2015, the RTA planned to upgrade taxi payment systems to accept Nol Cards as well as credit and debit cards. The Nol card can also be used in lieu of credit/debit cards in convenience stores across the city.

Types

There are four different types of cards available:

Types	Red Ticket	Silver	Gold	Blue
Target users	Tourists and Visitors	Frequent travelers	Passengers who wish to access the gold class	Frequent travelers who want their credit secured
Usage	Only metro, buses and tram	All mode of transport
Validity	90 days from the date of purchase and can be used for up to 10 journeys	5 years from the date of purchase		5 years from the date of issue
Special Features	Unlimited one-day trip and monthly passes for the metro is available	None	Gold Class access for metro and tram	Discount for students and senior citizen on metro. People with disabilities can travel for free on metro.

Special Design

The RTA has issued personalized Blue Nol cards featuring designs of Dubai landmarks including Burj Al Arab, Burj Khalifa, and other notable sites in a bid to familiarize visitors, as well as residents, with iconic landmarks of the Emirate.^[8]

Limited Edition Cards

The RTA has released limited edition Nol cards to commemorate events such as the UAE National Day and Expo 2020.

Smart Nol

On 26 November 2013, the RTA announced the launch of 'Smart Nol,' a contactless payment service in partnership with telecom providers Etisalat and du, allowing users to pay fares via NFC-enabled smartphones.

Requirements

Smart Nol requires NFC SIM from Etisalat or du and a compatible handset.

Nol Plus

Nol Plus is a rewards program that was initiated by Roads and Transport Authority (Dubai) in 2019.^[9] Nol Plus utilises a points system where the user can earn points by using their Nol Card to pay for public transport, taxi fares, and parking. 1 AED is equivalent to 1 point and the user can also redeem points on the official website where 10 AED is equivalent to 1000 points.

See also

• List of smart cards
• Roads and Transport Authority (Dubai)
• Dubai Metro