Nol Card
Dubai's contactless transport card — one tap pays for the metro, tram, buses, water buses and public parking. Visitors want the Silver card; the Red ticket is for one-off trips.
Nol (Arabic for 'fare') is the RTA's smart card and the only way to ride Dubai Metro — there are no cash tickets at the gates. The same card works on the tram, every public bus, the water bus and the RTA's paid parking meters, and it is issued at every metro station, both airport terminals' metro entrances and most supermarkets.
Which card
| Type | Cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Red ticket | AED 2 + fares, paper | One or two journeys; single line only, valid 90 days |
| Silver card | AED 25 incl. AED 19 credit | Visitors — standard class on everything, reloadable for 5 years |
| Gold card | AED 25 incl. AED 19 credit | Gold Class metro cabin at double the fare |
| Blue card | AED 70, personalised | Residents, students and seniors with discounts |
Fares and rules
Dubai is divided into seven zones; a Silver-card ride costs AED 3 within one zone, AED 5 across two and AED 7.5 across three or more, so the airport-to-Marina trip is AED 7.5. Tap in and tap out at every gate, including on buses — forgetting costs the maximum fare. Children under five ride free. Top up at station machines, at Zoom and Carrefour, or in the nol Pay app with a foreign card.
Frequently asked questions
At the metro station ticket office or machines inside Terminals 1 and 3; pay by card or cash.
