From Metro to retail: Dubai’s new nol system set to transform everyday payments
QR tickets, digital wallets and bank cards among upcoming features
DUBAI – Dubai’s public transport payment system is moving towards a major digital transformation, with the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) announcing that 72 percent of the upgrade to its nol payment platform has now been completed.
The project will replace the existing card-based ticketing (CBT) system with a more advanced account-based ticketing (ABT) platform designed to deliver greater flexibility, convenience and a wider range of payment options. The entire project is scheduled for completion by the end of the first quarter of 2027.
The upgraded system is expected to become one of the world's most advanced transport payment platforms, reflecting the latest developments in digital payments and financial technology while aligning with international best practices.
Nol upgrade
Mattar Al Tayer, Director-General, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the Roads and Transport Authority, described the nol upgrade as a strategic milestone in RTA's broader digital transformation programme and a long-term investment in the future of digital services.
According to Al Tayer, the new platform will create a unified payment ecosystem connecting various transport modes and services while improving operational efficiency and making journeys easier for customers. He added that the project supports Dubai's vision of using advanced technology to simplify government services, improve customer experiences and strengthen the emirate's position as one of the world's best places to live, work and move around.
The project also supports the Dubai Cashless Strategy by expanding digital payment options and strengthening integration between transport services and the wider economy. The upgraded nol platform is expected to become an everyday payment tool that extends well beyond public transport.
Three phases
The transformation has been divided into three main phases.
- The first phase introduces QR code ticketing through digital channels, allowing passengers to purchase and use transport tickets digitally without relying solely on physical cards.
- The second phase will see the launch of a new generation of nol cards featuring updated technology that complies with global standards. These cards will be compatible with bank card technologies and will automatically link to customers' digital accounts when purchased.
- The final phase will complete the transition by enabling passengers to pay public transport fares using bank cards and digital wallets alongside the new nol cards and QR code tickets.
New features
Once fully implemented, the account-based system will provide customers with significantly greater control over their travel accounts.
Users will be able to create personal accounts, link their own nol cards as well as those belonging to family members, manage individual profiles and assign separate top-up amounts to each linked card. Automatic balance top-ups through linked bank accounts will also become available.
The platform will enable customers to add nol cards to smartphone digital wallets, purchase QR code tickets through digital channels, review daily transaction statements, block lost cards instantly and recover remaining balances with greater ease. It will also support more flexible fare structures across Dubai's public transport network.
To support the rollout, RTA is upgrading ticketing systems, devices and smart kiosks across public transport stations. These improvements will enable payments through QR code tickets, the next-generation nol cards, bank cards and digital wallets, giving passengers multiple ways to pay for their journeys.
Beyond transport
The upgraded nol platform is also set to expand beyond transport services.
The next generation of nol cards will be accepted for shopping through digital channels and at retail outlets across the UAE, allowing customers to use them much like conventional bank cards. This move is expected to broaden the role of nol from a transport payment card into a wider digital payment solution.
Originally launched on 9 September 2009 alongside the opening of Dubai Metro, the nol card has evolved steadily over the years. More recently, RTA introduced the nol Student Package in partnership with the International Student Identity Card Association (ISIC Association), giving students access to dedicated discounts around the world.
The authority has also rolled out promotional nol Travel cards for tourists and residents while expanding the card's functionality to include payments for soft mobility services such as e-scooters. The integration of nol payments with soft mobility is regarded as one of the pioneering applications of its kind globally, supporting seamless first- and last-mile journeys while further connecting Dubai's growing transport network.