DUBAI: Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority has completed 72% of a major upgrade to the nol payment system, moving it from card-based ticketing to a new account-based digital payment system.
The project is expected to be fully completed by the end of the first quarter of 2027.
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What Will Change for nol Users?
The current nol system works mainly through a stored-value card.
Under the new account-based ticketing system, payments will be linked to a customer account.
RTA said this will allow users to create accounts, link their nol cards, add family members’ cards, manage profiles, and assign top-up amounts for each card.
Users will also be able to activate automatic top-ups through a linked bank account.
The system will also allow customers to check daily transaction statements, block cards, and recover balances more smoothly.
QR Tickets, New nol Cards, and Digital Wallets
RTA said the project has been divided into three main phases.
The first phase will introduce QR code ticketing through digital channels.
The second phase will roll out a new generation of nol cards using updated technologies.
These new cards will be aligned with global payment standards and will be linked automatically to customer accounts when purchased.
The third phase will allow more payment options for Dubai public transport fares, including bank cards and digital wallets.
This means riders may no longer need to rely only on a physical nol card once the full system is rolled out.
nol Cards May Soon Work Beyond Transport
The upgraded system will also expand the use of nol cards outside public transport.
RTA said the new generation of nol cards will be usable for shopping through digital channels and at retail outlets across the UAE, similar to bank cards.
This supports Dubai’s move toward more cashless payments and wider use of digital services.
It also strengthens nol’s role as an everyday payment tool, not only a transport card.
