nol card types and prices
| Card | Price | Best for | Trip fare (1 / 2 / 3+ zones) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Silver | AED 25, includes AED 19 credit | Most riders, tourists | AED 3 / 5 / 7.50 |
| Gold | AED 25, includes AED 19 credit | Gold Class cabin | AED 6 / 10 / 15 |
| Blue (personal) | AED 70, includes AED 20 credit | Residents, students, seniors | AED 3 / 5 / 7.50 (discounts available) |
| Red Ticket | AED 2 (paper) | One-off trips | AED 4 / 6 / 8.50 |
The fare depends on the number of fare zones you cross. Our fare calculator estimates the price of any metro trip.
Where to buy a nol card
- Metro stations: ticket offices and ticket vending machines in every station, including Airport Terminal 1 and Terminal 3.
- RTA customer happiness centres and authorised sales agents.
- Online: personal (Blue) cards are ordered on nol.rta.ae, in the nol Pay app or in the S'hail app, and delivered free.
How to use your nol card
- Tap in on the gate reader when you enter the station. You need at least AED 7.50 on a Silver card to start a trip.
- Ride. Changing between the Red and Green lines inside Union or BurJuman does not start a new fare.
- Tap out at your destination: the gate charges the fare for the zones you travelled.
- Transferring to a bus? After you tap out of the metro you have 30 minutes to tap in on a bus as part of the same journey. A journey can last up to 180 minutes with up to 3 transfers.
Personal Blue card: discounts and how to apply
The Blue card is linked to your Emirates ID. Apply on nol.rta.ae, in nol Pay or in S'hail; verification takes up to 2 working days and delivery is free within 4 working days. It is needed for these benefits:
- Students (5 to 23): 50% off, with an enrolment letter from a UAE institution.
- Senior citizens and Social Affairs beneficiaries: 50% off.
- People of determination: free travel (official card or Sanad tourist card).
- Lost card protection: registered cards can be blocked and the balance refunded. See lost card.
Children aged 5 and under travel free.
Digital nol card on your phone
On Samsung phones you can create a digital Silver or Gold card in the nol Pay app (Samsung Wallet), and on Huawei phones in Huawei Wallet. Once a physical card is digitised it stops working. iPhone and Apple Wallet are not supported yet: in July 2026 RTA said its account-based nol upgrade, which adds bank cards and digital wallets, was 72% complete and due by the end of Q1 2027. iPhones can still read a card's balance and top it up through nol Pay using NFC.
Frequently asked questions
Which nol card should I buy?
Visitors and occasional riders: a Silver card (AED 25 with AED 19 credit). If you want the Gold Class cabin: a Gold card (same price, double fares). Residents who travel daily, students and seniors: a personal Blue card, which you can register, refund if lost and use for discounted passes.
How long is a nol card valid?
Five years. Personal (Blue) cards show the expiry date on the card; Silver and Gold cards do not. An expired card can be used until its balance runs out, but it cannot be topped up.
Can I use one nol card for two people?
No. Each passenger taps in and out with their own card or ticket. Using a personal or discount card that belongs to someone else is fined AED 200.
Can I add a nol card to Apple Wallet or Google Wallet?
Not yet. Digital nol cards work on Samsung phones (nol Pay) and Huawei phones (Huawei Wallet) only. RTA says payment with bank cards and digital wallets is part of the nol upgrade due by the end of the first quarter of 2027.
What is the maximum balance on a nol card?
AED 1,000 on anonymous Silver and Gold cards and AED 5,000 on personal or registered cards.
Check nol balance
Online, app, machine or ticket office.
Top up a nol card
Minimum amounts and every channel.
Weekly and monthly passes
7, 30, 90 and 365-day pass prices.
Lost or expired card
Block, refund or replace your card.
Metro fares
AED 3 to 7.50 per trip by zone.
Reviewed 1 October 2026.