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Monday 15 March 2010 (UAE)
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Dubai Metro Nol card tickets and costs
Dubai Metro ticket fares were announced on 22 July 2009 by the RTA boss, Matter Al Tayer. Passengers will need to buy one of 4 different colored cards, called Nol cards. Nol is a Farsi or Arabic word meaning "fare" or "transport cost". Nol cards can be loaded with credit and then swiped across a machine somewhere to gain entry to a Dubai Metro train, and again on exit to calculate the cost of a single trip. The trip fee will be deducted automatically. Or for monthly passes (30 days in fact but the term "monthly pass" seems to be used frequently), the cost will be deducted from the Nol card credit, but the Nol card still needs to be used to enter and exit the metro stations. Sales of the Silver Nol cards (for standard fares and adult travel) were launched on 20 August 2009. Red Nol cards and Gold Nol cards available on Dubai Metro start date of 09 September 2009, Blue Nol cards (personalised with user's photo) might be available by November 2009, and monthly passes later in 2009, or early 2010.
Confused about Dubai Metro fares? If you don't want to try and figure it all out, just buy a Silver Nol Card at ticket booth or machine for 20 dhs, then swipe it at the reader when going through entry and exit turnstiles. All the calculations will be done for you and deducted automatically. The card automatically limits total charge for a day at 14 dirhams so don't worry about trying to find a day pass. After the first day you'll probably need to recharge it if you want to use the Dubai Metro again - 50 dhs or 100 dhs should be enough for an average week if used regularly. Or a month if used occasionally.
Discounted Dubai Metro travel
Information based on RTA announcement as reported in Emirates Business 24-7 on 20 September 2009. Date which discounts come into effect not supplied.
- Special Needs passengers to travel free on the Dubai Metro.
- Update 13 November 2009: A report in The National said "The Metro will be free for disabled passengers by February."
- Students (UAE nationals only) and Senior Citizens get 50% discount and 30 days of free travel.
- Children under 5 years of age travel free and will not need a NOL card (it's not clear how they will get through the ticket gates though).
- Loyalty Points system for rewards (sounds like Airmiles etc, will be handy if you want a free toaster or book voucher).
Dubai Metro Nol cards
| Nol card color | Type | Available | Validity | Cost | Max Credit | For use by |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nol Red Card | 10 September 2009 | 90 days | AED 2 | 10 journeys | Infrequent travellers | |
| Nol Silver Card | epurse | 20 August 2009 | 5 years | AED 20 | AED 500 | Regular passengers |
| Nol Gold Card | epurse | 10 September 2009 | 5 years | AED 20 | AED 500 | Hoi Polloi VIP travellers |
| Nol Blue Card | epurse | end November 2009 | 5 years | AED 70 | AED 500 | Students, Senior Citizens |
- Nol cards can be purchased and recharged at Dubai Metro station Ticket Booths and Ticket Vending Machines, Dubai Bus Stations, RTA Customer Service Centers, and RTA authorized sales agents.
- There are 4 types of Nol cards - Red, Silver, Gold, and Blue. The Red Nol is a "Unified Paper Ticket", and the other 3 are a "Unified E-Card" with a rechargeable e-purse. The Red Nol is a credit-card sized piece of cardboard, the others are plastic.
- Nol Silver and Gold card cost is made up of 6 dhs for the card and 14 dhs credit for travel.
- Red Nol cards can be used for a maximum of 5 one-day passes or 10 single journeys within a 90 day period.
- Monthly passes can be purchased, allowing unlimited travel on the Dubai Metro for 30 days (not always a month). Available from 2010 Q2.
- Children under 5 travel free, children over 5 probably travel full price or get a student card.
- Nol cards are also valid (and will be required after launch date of the Dubai Metro) for other public transport in Dubai - Dubai buses and Dubai Creek ferries/waterbuses.
- Special Needs travellers might get discounted travel with a Blue Nol Card. The RTA press release about Nol cards said "In future a discounted package will be made available for kids, students, elderly and special needs," but didn't give further details. Update 19 October 2009: discounted travel should be available from 2010 second quarter.
- Nol cards can also be used for payment at RTA car parks? Mattar Al Tayer said in 22 July 2009 press release "The Unified Nol Card, which will be unleashed with the start of passenger service of Dubai Metro, offers smooth & comfortable service to users of Dubai Metro, Public Buses, Water Bus and Paid Parking Zones."
Dubai Metro Blue Nol Cards
- Blue Nol cards are personalised with photo for the use of the holder only.
- Apply at metro stations, RTA customer service stations, and online from end of November 2009, cards will be delivered by courier.
- To apply for a Blue Nol card, bring application form, proof of identity and 70 dhs. Application forms are available on the RTA website or at the ticket/RTA office.
Dubai Metro tickets, prices, and fares - all prices in AED (divide by 4 to get approximate $US value)
| Type of ticket/travel distance | Nol card | All zones | < 3km | 1 zone | 2 zones | 3 zones | 4 zones | 5 zones |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard adult ticket price | Red | 2.00 |
2.50 |
4.50 |
6.50 |
6.50 |
6.50 |
|
| Pre-paid standard adult fare | Silver | 1.80 |
2.30 |
4.10 |
5.80 |
5.80 |
5.80 |
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| Students (registered with Blue Nol card) | Blue | 0.90 |
1.15 |
2.05 |
2.90 |
2.90 |
2.90 |
|
| Senior citizens (registered) | Blue | 0.90 |
1.15 |
2.05 |
2.90 |
2.90 |
2.90 |
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| Gold Class standard ticket | Red | 4.00 |
5.00 |
9.00 |
13.00 |
13.00 |
13.00 |
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| Gold Class pre-paid ticket | Gold | 3.60 |
4.60 |
8.20 |
11.60 |
11.60 |
11.60 |
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| One day ticket valid all zones | Any | 14.00 |
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| 30 day pass standard | Silver | 270.00 |
100.00 |
100.00 |
180.00 |
270.00 |
270.00 |
270.00 |
| 30 day pass students | Blue | 170.00 |
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| 30 day pass senior citizens | Blue | 200.00 |
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| Disabled / Special Needs travellers | Blue | Free | ||||||
Note that "pre-paid" in reference to tickets refers to pre-payment by loading Nol card with credit, not buying an individual one trip ticket before travelling. The actual "pre-paid" ticket cost is deducted automatically from your Nol card at the end of each journey. Confused? Don't worry about it, just press your Nol card on entry to and exit from the Dubai Metro station.
- Dubai Metro Card and ticket prices in grey are not available until October 2009 or later.
- Silver and Gold Nol card holders can buy standard class pre-paid tickets (pre-paid refers to charging the Nol card since the actual ticket price is not deducted until the end of the journey), and one or thirty day passes for standard class. Gold Class one and thirty day passes not available, or prices not available.
- If a Nol Gold card holder uses it for travel on transport where there is no Gold Class (bus, ferry), then the standard class fare is automatically deducted.
- Children under 5 years of age travel free. Older children should get a student pass or pay adult fares (not confirmed).
- Monthly passes are valid 30 days which implies that monthly passes in the sense of one valid for a given month, don't exist. The 30 day passes will not be available until late 2009 or early 2010 according to some reports.
- Passengers riding in Gold Class without a valid Gold Nol Card or Gold Class ticket will cop a fine if caught (AED 100 or 200 in September 2009).
Dubai Metro Nol Card outlets for purchase and recharge
- Emirates NBD bank branches (and eventually recharge via ATM, CDM, Online Internet Banking, and Moblie SMS Banking). An exclusive partnership with the RTA (announced 07 September 2009).
Last update Sunday 21-Feb-2010
Related pages
- Dubai Metro - general information
- Dubai Metro - forum, add comments or questions about the Dubai Metro
- Palm Island monorail - a bit more expensive than the Dubai metro
- Abu Dhabi Metro - should be up and running a few years after Dubai
| Dubai Metro project: | Dubai Metro information | Nol Cards | Dubai Metro feeder buses | Dubai Metro website |
|---|---|
| Dubai Metro lines: | Dubai Metro Red Line | Dubai Metro Green Line | Dubai Metro Blue Line | Dubai Metro Purple Line |
Related websites (new window)
- www.nol.ae - Nol card and Dubai Metro information from the RTA
- Dubai Metro website - list of different Dubai Metro websites, official and unofficial
- Dubai directory - add your link free