Nol Card Guide & Balance Check
One card pays for the Dubai Metro, tram, buses and RTA parking — cash is not accepted on RTA public transport. Here are the card types and fares exactly as the RTA publishes them, and the official way to check your balance.
Check your balance — on RTA's website, not here
Your card number should only ever be typed into the RTA's own site. The RTA offers the check in two official places: the nol Pay app, or the "Check nol Balance" tool on the RTA website. On the website:
- Open the official RTA website (button below).
- Find the Check nol Balance box on the homepage.
- Type the nol tag ID printed on the back of your card.
- Press Search — your balance shows on rta.ae itself.
You need a minimum balance of AED 7.50 on the card to start a Metro journey — check before you travel.
The four Nol cards (RTA's own figures)
| Card | Price | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Silver | AED 25, including AED 19 balance | The regular card for everyday travel at standard fares. |
| Gold | AED 25, including AED 19 balance | Same card, plus access to the Metro & Tram Gold Class cabin — at double the regular fare. |
| Personal (Blue) | AED 70, including AED 20 credit | Registered to you: your balance can be recovered if the card is lost or stolen, and it is the card required for concession fares. |
| Red Ticket | Paper ticket, pay per trip | Occasional trips — you pay only for the exact journey you travel (fares in the table below). |
Silver and Gold cards hold a maximum balance of AED 1,000 (AED 5,000 once registered) and are valid for 5 years; the Personal card holds up to AED 5,000 and is also valid 5 years. Concession fares on the Personal card: students, senior citizens and social affairs beneficiaries pay 50%, People of Determination travel free, and children aged 5 and under travel free on every card. Source: RTA "Choose nol" and "nol Fares" pages, rta.ae.
How fares work: 7 zones
Dubai's public transport map is divided into 7 zones. You tap in and tap out, and at the end of the journey you are charged for the total number of zones you passed — the same fare whether you rode the Metro, the tram, a bus, or a mix:
| Journey | Silver / Personal | Gold | Red Ticket |
|---|---|---|---|
| Within 1 zone | AED 3 | AED 6 | AED 4 |
| 2 adjacent zones | AED 5 | AED 10 | AED 6 |
| More than 2 zones | AED 7.50 | AED 15 | AED 8.50 |
Changing between modes counts as one journey if you tap into the next mode within 30 minutes of tapping out; a single journey can last up to 180 minutes with up to 3 transfers. The same card also pays for RTA paid parking and marine transport. Full official table: nol Fares on rta.ae.
Buying and topping up
RTA sells and tops up nol cards across its network and online. The reliable routes:
- Buy: start with RTA's own Choose nol page for the current sales channels; the Personal card is applied for online — see RTA's Personal nol card service.
- Top up online: through RTA's Top up nol card service or the nol Pay app — then activate the new balance by tapping the card in the nol Pay app, at a Metro gate, or at a solar top-up machine, as RTA instructs on that page.
- Keep it ready: RTA asks you to hold at least AED 7.50 to travel, and recommends keeping AED 15 on the card.
Fares and details checked against salik.ae / rta.ae on 7 November 2026 — always confirm on the official site before you travel.
Keep planning the journey
New to Dubai?
The Metro is the cheapest way across the city. See the lines, the hours and where to change trains on our Dubai Metro page.
Dubai Metro Guide Read DXB Talk guides