February 23, 2026
Methodology About Newsletter
WE THE UAE 2031
The Vanderbilt Terminal for the UAE's National Transformation
INDEPENDENT GLOBAL INTELLIGENCE FOR THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES
UAE GDP: AED 2.03T ▲ 5.7% | Non-Oil GDP Share: 84.3% ▼ -5.2pp | FDI Inflows: $45.6B ▲ 48.7% | GDP Growth: 4.0% ▲ -0.3pp vs 2023 | Inflation: 1.7% ▼ +0.0pp vs 2023 | Female Participation: 55.1% ▲ +0.6pp vs 2023 | Population: 11.0M ▲ 4.8% | Emiratisation Rate: 12.5% ▲ 2.1pp | Global Competitiveness: #7 ▲ 3 places | Clean Energy Capacity: 7.2 GW ▲ 18.4% | ADX Index: 9,842 ▲ 4.7% | DFM Index: 4,621 ▲ 6.2% | UAE GDP: AED 2.03T ▲ 5.7% | Non-Oil GDP Share: 84.3% ▼ -5.2pp | FDI Inflows: $45.6B ▲ 48.7% | GDP Growth: 4.0% ▲ -0.3pp vs 2023 | Inflation: 1.7% ▼ +0.0pp vs 2023 | Female Participation: 55.1% ▲ +0.6pp vs 2023 | Population: 11.0M ▲ 4.8% | Emiratisation Rate: 12.5% ▲ 2.1pp | Global Competitiveness: #7 ▲ 3 places | Clean Energy Capacity: 7.2 GW ▲ 18.4% | ADX Index: 9,842 ▲ 4.7% | DFM Index: 4,621 ▲ 6.2% |

Definition

The Nol Card is a rechargeable contactless smart card issued by Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) that serves as the unified fare payment medium across all public transport modes in the emirate. Introduced in August 2009 alongside the launch of the Dubai Metro, the Nol system uses near-field communication (NFC) technology to enable tap-and-go payment on metro trains, tram services, public buses, water buses, intercity coaches, and RTA-operated parking meters. The card operates on a stored-value basis, with fares automatically deducted based on the transport mode used, distance travelled, and fare zone crossed. The Nol system replaced fragmented, mode-specific ticketing with a single integrated payment platform.

UAE Context

The Nol Card is available in four variants tailored to different user segments. The Silver Nol Card is the standard rechargeable card purchased for AED 25 (including AED 19 credit) and used by the majority of riders. The Gold Nol Card provides access to Gold Class compartments on the metro and premium seating on buses, appealing to business commuters willing to pay a premium for additional comfort. The Blue Nol Card is a personalised, auto-top-up card with additional features including online account management and lost-card replacement. The Red Nol Ticket is a disposable paper ticket for tourists and occasional riders, loadable for up to ten trips. The fare structure divides Dubai into transport zones, with single-zone trips on the metro costing as little as AED 3 for Silver card holders. The Nol system processes millions of transactions monthly and is a core data source for RTA’s transport planning analytics, enabling demand forecasting, service optimisation, and infrastructure investment decisions based on actual ridership patterns.

Key Data

  • Introduced: August 2009
  • Issuing authority: Roads and Transport Authority (RTA)
  • Technology: Near-field communication (NFC) contactless smart card
  • Card types: Silver (standard), Gold (premium), Blue (personalised), Red (disposable ticket)
  • Accepted on: Dubai Metro, Dubai Tram, RTA buses, water buses, intercity coaches, RTA parking
  • Fare zones: Multiple zones across Dubai, with fares calculated by distance and mode
  • Silver card cost: AED 25 (including AED 19 usable credit)
  • Digital option: Nol Pay via mobile NFC (Apple Pay and Samsung Pay integration)

Significance for Vision 2031

The Nol Card is foundational infrastructure for Dubai’s goal of increasing public transport mode share from current levels to 25 percent or more by 2030. A seamless, affordable fare payment system reduces barriers to public transport adoption and encourages modal shift away from private vehicles, supporting congestion reduction, air quality improvement, and carbon emission targets. The evolution of Nol into digital and mobile payment platforms (Nol Pay) aligns with Dubai’s smart city and cashless economy ambitions. Transaction data generated by the Nol system feeds directly into transport planning models that determine where to build new metro extensions, adjust bus routes, and deploy mobility-on-demand services. As Dubai expands its transit network with planned Blue and Purple metro lines, the Nol platform’s scalability ensures a consistent passenger experience across an increasingly complex multimodal system.

  • Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) — The government entity that issues and manages the Nol system
  • Dubai Metro — The primary transit mode using Nol card payment
  • Dubai Tram — Light rail service integrated into the Nol fare system
  • Salik — Dubai’s road toll system, operated separately from the Nol account