The Nol card is Dubai's unified transit card — metro, tram, bus, water bus — all on one card. Some taxis too. Issued by RTA.
Card types
| Card | Price | Initial balance | Use |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red | 2 AED | 0 AED (top up each time) | Single-trip / tourist. Up to 10 top-ups |
| Silver | 25 AED | 19 AED | Most common. General use |
| Gold | 25 AED | 19 AED | Gold Class cabin (double fare, more space) |
| Blue | 70 AED | 20 AED | Personalised — student / senior / disability discounts |
Buying + top-up
Where to buy
- Every metro station (counter or kiosk)
- RTA service centres
- Some large malls and the airport
Top-up methods
- In-station self kiosks — cash or card, under 2 min
- RTA app — credit card, remote
- Nol Pay app — mobile wallet integration
- Select convenience stores (some Carrefour branches)
Minimum top-up: usually 5 AED+. Each trip costs roughly 3–7 AED.
Transfer rules
- Transfers within 30 minutes count as one journey → no extra fare
- Example: metro → tram, metro → bus, water bus → metro
- Over 30 minutes, a new journey is charged
Metro (Red Line, Green Line)
- Red Line: DXB airport ↔ Jebel Ali. The main central axis.
- Green Line: old city (Deira, Gold Souk) ↔ Creek.
- Transfer stations: BurJuman, Union, etc.
- Operating hours: Sat–Wed 05:00–24:00, Thu 05:00–01:00, Fri 08:00–01:00.
- Station names change often (commercial rebrands). Check the latest before traveling.
Gold Class vs Silver cabin
- Gold: wider, calmer. Gold Nol card required. ~2× the fare.
- Silver: standard cabin. Separate women + children cabin (pink) exists.
- Men entering the women's cabin are fined 100 AED.
Prohibited (fine ≥ 200 AED)
- Eating or drinking (water sometimes disputed)
- Chewing gum
- Pressing the emergency button without cause
- Using the wrong entry / exit
Tram
- Al Sufouh ↔ Dubai Marina
- Connects to Red Line (Jumeirah Lakes Towers, Dubai Marina)
- Fares follow the same zone structure
Bus
- Budget-oriented — less common among expats and tourists
- Stops are unpleasant in summer heat
- Inter-Emirates bus: Dubai (Ibn Battuta) ↔ Abu Dhabi central terminal — 25 AED / ~1h30
Water bus / taxi
- Around Dubai Creek. Traditional abra and modern ferries.
- Fares: 1 AED (abra) up to 25 AED (water taxi).
- Used for real commutes by some, not just tourism.
Fares (by zone)
| Zones | Silver (AED) | Gold (AED) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 (within zone) | 3 | 6 |
| 2 zones | 5 | 10 |
| 3+ zones | 7.5 | 15 |
Live fares in the RTA app.
Taxi Nol payment
Some RTA taxis accept Nol card payment (look for "Pay Through Nol"). Base fare 5 AED + distance + time. Careem and Uber don't integrate.
What to get if you're Korean and new
- Day 1: Silver card, top up ~50 AED
- Long-term: stick with Silver. Gold only for rush-hour comfort.
- Families: Blue card for children 10+ (student discount)
If lost
- High-balance Silver / Gold: if registered with RTA (via app / Nol Pay), balance can be transferred. Unregistered cards cannot recover balance.
- Register your card's number in the RTA app or Nol Pay app at purchase.