There are four nol card types in Dubai. The Red Ticket is a AED 2 paper ticket for a few trips. Silver (AED 25) is the standard card for everyone. Gold (AED 25) lets you ride in Gold Class at double the fare. Blue (from AED 70) is the personal card, in your name, that unlocks student and senior discounts.
For most visitors the choice is between Red and Silver. For most residents it is Silver or Blue. The sections below compare the four cards on price, fares and rules.
The four nol card colours at a glance
Card | Price | Credit included | Fare for 1 / 2 / 3+ zones | Valid for | Best for |
Red Ticket | AED 2 | None (load trips) | AED 4 / 6 / 8.50 | 90 days | A handful of trips |
Silver | AED 25 | AED 19 | AED 3 / 5 / 7.50 | 5 years | Regular travel, tourists staying a week |
Gold | AED 25 | AED 19 | AED 6 / 10 / 15 | 5 years | Gold Class cabin users |
Blue (Personal) | AED 70 | AED 20 | AED 3 / 5 / 7.50, or 50% off with a concession | 5 years | Students, seniors, residents who want protection |
All prices and fares come from RTA’s nol fares page and its anonymous nol card service page. Dubai is split into 7 fare zones, and the fare depends on how many you cross.
Red Ticket: paper, cheap and limited
The Red Ticket is a paper card that costs AED 2. You don’t load money on it. You load trips: up to 10 single trips or 5 daily passes, and the ticket expires after 90 days.
It only works on the Metro, tram and bus, and RTA says it can be used on only one mode of transport at a time. Each trip also costs AED 1 more than on a Silver card. A red nol card is still the right pick when you will only ride a few times, because you never pay for credit you won’t use.
There is also a Gold Red Ticket for Gold Class, at AED 8, 12 or 17 per trip.
Silver card: the standard choice
Silver is the standard card. It costs AED 25, of which AED 19 is travel credit, so the card itself really costs AED 6. When the credit runs low, you can recharge your nol card at any Metro ticket machine or in the nol Pay app.
The card lasts 5 years. After that, RTA lets you spend the remaining balance for another 2 years, but you can’t top it up. An anonymous Silver card can hold up to AED 1,000. You can also use it for RTA parking and at more than 2,000 shops, with RTA capping retail payments at AED 200.
The catch is that a Silver card is anonymous. If you lose it, the balance is gone, unless you registered it with RTA for AED 30 (more on that in our lost nol card guide).
Gold card: Gold Class at double the fare
A Gold card costs the same AED 25 with AED 19 credit, and gives you the Gold Class cabin on the Metro and tram. RTA describes the cabin as having wide leather seats and panoramic views.
Every Metro or tram trip on a gold nol card is charged at double the Silver fare. RTA is clear that this applies even when no Gold Class seat is free. On buses, which have no Gold Class, you pay the normal fare.
For a commuter crossing 2 zones twice a day, that is AED 20 a day instead of AED 10. Gold is worth it for the occasional comfortable trip, not as an everyday card for most people.
Blue (Personal) card: discounts and protection
The Blue card is the personal nol card: your name is printed on it, and it is linked to your Emirates ID. It costs AED 70, made up of a AED 50 application fee and AED 20 credit. You apply online and it is delivered free.
It gives:
- 50% off Metro, tram and bus fares for students aged 5 to 23 and for Emiratis and residents aged 60 and over
- free travel for People of Determination
- balance protection, so a lost card can be blocked and the balance moved
- a higher balance limit of AED 5,000
- 30, 90 and 365-day travel passes
A regular adult gets no fare discount on a Blue card, which makes it the most expensive nol card type for someone without a concession. Our personal nol card guide covers the application and the student version.
Which nol card should you buy?
Our view, based on the official fares:
- Short visit with a few trips: a red nol card. Up to four trips, it costs the same as Silver or less.
- A week or more in Dubai: Silver. It is cheaper from the fifth trip and you can top it up anywhere.
- A day of sightseeing with 3 or more long trips: a 1-day pass on a Red Ticket, AED 20 plus the AED 2 ticket.
- Resident commuter: Silver, registered for AED 30 if you want your balance protected.
- Student, senior or Person of Determination: Blue, because the discount pays back the extra cost within weeks.
- Gold Class regular: Gold, but only if comfort matters more to you than paying double.
There is no single nol card for tourists that suits every trip. It depends on how often you ride, so the next section works out the numbers.
When does Silver beat the Red Ticket?
The maths is simple. A Silver card costs AED 6 more to buy than you get back as credit, while a Red Ticket costs AED 2. So Silver starts AED 4 behind. Every trip on Silver then saves AED 1 compared with Red.
After four trips the two are level, and from the fifth trip Silver is cheaper. For a 3-day visit with 8 long trips, Red costs AED 70 (AED 2 plus 8 × AED 8.50) and Silver costs AED 66 in fares and card fee.
The one thing that can tip it back is leftover credit. If you leave Dubai with AED 15 on a Silver card, that money is lost unless you claim a refund at a Metro ticket office, where RTA charges AED 5.
Are there other nol card colours?
Some websites list a Green card or “VIP” nol cards. These are not on RTA’s list. The official types of nol cards are the four above, plus a few versions of them. None of these is a separate type of nol card with its own fares:
- nol Travel card: a specially designed Silver card for tourists and residents, sold with partner discounts. We could not confirm its current price, because RTA and news reports give different figures.
- Virtual nol card: a Silver, Gold or Personal card stored in the nol Pay app. RTA lists only compatible Samsung and Huawei phones and two Huawei watches, so iPhone users need a physical card.
- QR tickets: a newer digital or paper QR code for single trips or a 1-day pass, with a AED 2 fee per purchase.
These card types may not last in this form. The Dubai Media Office says RTA’s new payment system is 72% complete and due by the end of the first quarter of 2027, with bank cards and phone wallets accepted at the gates. Check the Dubai Media Office announcement for the timeline.
Mistakes people make with each card
The first is sitting in the Gold Class cabin with a Silver card or a regular Red Ticket. RTA’s fines table lists AED 100 for sitting in areas designated for specific categories, and AED 200 for travelling without paying the applicable fare.
The second is running the balance too low. RTA requires at least AED 7.50 on your card to use the Metro, and advises keeping AED 15 so you can get home. Before a trip, a quick nol card balance check saves a queue at the ticket machine.
The third is buying a Gold card by mistake at a ticket machine. Both cost AED 25, but every Metro trip on Gold costs double, so check the nol card colour before you pay.
Frequently asked questions
Which nol card is best for tourists?
For a short stay with a few rides, the Red Ticket is the cheapest nol card for tourists at AED 2 plus your trips. If you will ride five times or more, buy a Silver card for AED 25, which includes AED 19 credit. A busy sightseeing day suits a AED 22 1-day pass.
What is the difference between the Silver and Gold nol card?
Both cost AED 25 with AED 19 credit and last 5 years. The Gold card lets you use the Gold Class cabin on the Metro and tram, but every trip there costs double the Silver fare, even if no seat is free. On buses, a Gold card pays the normal fare.
Can tourists get a Blue nol card?
Generally no. You apply for a Blue card online with a UAE Pass linked to an Emirates ID, and the discounts are for UAE students, seniors and People of Determination. The exception is visiting People of Determination, who can apply with a Sanad Tourist card from the Dubai Now app and travel free.
How long is a nol card valid?
Silver, Gold and Blue cards are valid for 5 years. After expiry, RTA lets you spend the remaining balance for 2 more years, but you can’t top up. A Red Ticket lasts 90 days. On a Blue card, student and senior discounts must be renewed every year.
Choosing between the nol card types today
Pick by how often you travel, not by colour. Of the nol card types, Red suits a few trips, Silver suits regular travel, Gold is a comfort upgrade at double the fare, and Blue pays off only if you qualify for a discount. Our guide to Dubai Metro and bus fares shows what each trip costs on each card. For more transport guides, visit our travel section or the Live In Gulf homepage.
