Nol Card Chooser — Which Dubai Nol Card Should I Get?
Answer 6 quick questions and find out which Dubai Nol card — Red Ticket, Silver, Gold, Blue Personalised, or Day Pass — is the best match for your stay, commute, and budget. Includes fare comparison, Metro zone pricing, and a step-by-step buying guide.
Signed by: Sarah Al Qasimi (Lead Editor). Fact-checked by the full editorial team.
Nol Card Recommendation Tool
How this works
Answer the questions below about your stay, transit habits, and priorities. The tool will recommend the best Nol card for your situation — with estimated weekly cost, where to buy, and top-up methods.
Your travel profile
Complete your profile and click “Find my Nol card” to see your personalised recommendation.
Important Nol Card Rules
Silver Nol cards expire after 5 years of inactivity
A Silver or Gold Nol card that has not been used for 5 consecutive years will expire and any remaining credit is forfeited. If you are keeping a card for a future visit, make at least one transaction every 5 years to keep it active.
Always tap in AND tap out — same card, same journey
You must tap your Nol card on the reader when entering AND when exiting the Metro or tram. Using a different card for entry and exit is not permitted. Losing your card mid-journey means you cannot exit and may incur a maximum fare charge. Do not pass your card through the gate to a second person.
Fine: AED 200 for no valid ticket or insufficient balance
RTA inspectors patrol Metro carriages. If you are caught without a valid ticket or with insufficient Nol balance, the fine is AED 200. Ensure your card has at least AED 2 before boarding (minimum boarding balance).
Credit refunds: only Blue Personalised Nol holders
Only Blue Personalised Nol cardholders (Emirates ID–linked) can request a credit refund when leaving Dubai. Silver and Gold Nol card credit is non-refundable. If you have a Silver Nol with credit remaining, you can leave it topped up for future visits (valid 5 years if used periodically).
All 5 Nol Card Types Compared
Metro Fare Zones
Dubai Metro fares depend on how many zones your journey crosses. Zone 1 covers central Downtown/DIFC; Zone 2 covers Marina, Internet City, and the Airport; Zone 3 covers the furthest destinations like Rashidiya, Jebel Ali, and Expo.
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Metro Fares | |
Zone 1 fare — Silver Nol / Blue Personalised | AED 3.00 |
Zone 2 fare — Silver Nol / Blue Personalised | AED 5.00 |
Zone 3 fare — Silver Nol / Blue Personalised | AED 7.50 |
| Gold Class Fares | |
Zone 1 fare — Gold Nol (Gold class) | AED 6.00 |
Zone 2 fare — Gold Nol (Gold class) | AED 10.00 |
Zone 3 fare — Gold Nol (Gold class) | AED 15.00 |
| Day Pass | |
Silver Day Pass — unlimited 1-day all Silver class | AED 22.00 |
| Red Ticket | |
Red Ticket — Zone 1 single journey | AED 6.00 |
Red Ticket — Zone 2 single journey | AED 8.00 |
Red Ticket — Zone 3 single journey | AED 10.00 |
| Card Costs | |
Silver Nol card — upfront (incl. AED 19 credit) | AED 25.00 |
Gold Nol card — upfront (incl. AED 19 credit) | AED 25.00 |
Blue Personalised Nol — registration fee | AED 70.00 |
| Fines | |
Overstay fine (boarding without valid ticket) | AED 200.00 |
How to Buy, Top Up, and Use Your Nol Card via RTA Wojhati App
- 1
Download the RTA Wojhati app (iOS / Android)
The RTA Wojhati app is the official RTA Dubai transport app. It lets you plan Metro routes, top up your Nol card via NFC (Android/iPhone 7+), check your balance, and find bus routes. Download free from the App Store or Google Play.Time: 5 minutes - 2
Buy your Nol card at any Metro station ticket machine
Metro station ticket machines accept cash (AED notes) and credit/debit cards. Select 'Buy Nol Card', choose Silver or Gold, pay AED 25 (includes AED 19 credit). For a Day Pass, select 'Day Pass' — AED 22. Red Tickets: select your journey and pay per ride.Cost: AED 22–70 depending on card typeTime: 3–5 minutes at the machine - 3
Top up via the RTA Wojhati app (NFC) or at station machines
In the Wojhati app, tap 'Nol Recharge', enter your 16-digit card number or tap your card on an NFC-enabled phone, select the amount (AED 10–500), and pay by card. Alternatively, use the top-up machines at any Metro station (cash or card). Top-up kiosks are also available at Carrefour, Zoom, and ENOC petrol stations.Time: 2 minutes - 4
Tap in when boarding — ALWAYS tap out when exiting
CriticalHold your Nol card flat against the yellow reader as you enter the Metro gate — green light means you're in. When you exit at your destination, tap the card on the yellow reader again (gate exit). If you forget to tap out, the system charges the maximum fare (Zone 3 rate). The same Nol card must be used for both entry and exit.Time: Instant - 5
Check balance and top up before it drops below AED 5
You need a minimum of AED 2 on your card to board. The yellow reader displays your current balance after each tap. Set a balance alert in the Wojhati app. Top up via NFC on your phone or at any machine. If your balance is too low, you'll be denied boarding at the gate.Time: Ongoing
Tourist Card Comparison: Red Ticket vs Silver Nol vs Day Pass
Reasons to choose Silver Nol or Day Pass
- Red Ticket: No upfront card cost — perfect for single 1–2 rides
- Red Ticket: Available at any station machine without registration
- Silver Nol: Works on bus, tram, and water bus (not just Metro)
- Silver Nol: Valid for 5 years — usable on future Dubai visits
- Silver Nol: Cheaper per-ride fares than Red Ticket (Silver fare vs Red Ticket fare)
- Day Pass: AED 22 unlimited — breaks even at 3 Zone 2 rides in a day
Reasons to stick with Red Ticket
- Red Ticket: Higher per-ride cost than Silver Nol (AED 6–10 vs AED 3–7.50)
- Red Ticket: Station-machine only — cannot top up via app or Carrefour
- Red Ticket: Single journey only — must re-purchase every ride
- Silver Nol: AED 25 upfront — not ideal for 1-day visitors
- Day Pass: Single calendar day only — even if bought at night
- Day Pass: No Gold class access — Silver class only
Resident Nol: Get Blue Personalised Now vs Wait for Emirates ID
Benefits of Blue Personalised Nol for residents
- Blue Personalised Nol: Lower discounted fares for daily residents
- Blue Personalised Nol: Credit is refundable if you leave UAE
- Blue Personalised Nol: Replaceable if lost (credit is preserved on your account)
- Blue Personalised Nol: Linked to your Emirates ID — full account management
- Getting Blue Personalised immediately: Start saving on fares from day one
- Getting Blue Personalised immediately: Only card where you can top up and manage online with full account access
Challenges and when Silver Nol is a better interim choice
- Blue Personalised Nol requires Emirates ID — new residents must wait for Emirates ID
- Blue Personalised Nol registration fee is AED 70 — higher upfront than Silver (AED 25)
- Blue Personalised Nol requires visiting an RTA service centre in person
- Waiting for Emirates ID: Use Silver Nol in the meantime — cannot claim credit refund
- Silver Nol as interim: Not linked to your account — lost card means lost credit
- Silver Nol as interim: Standard (non-discounted) fares apply