In Dubai, millions of people travel by public transport, and you know very well how considerable Nol cards are used. You know about the NOL card and also know how many types there are as well. The Nol card is paramount because it is often utilized for paying the metro, bus, and tram fares.
The Road and Transport Authority (RTA) urges you to bring the card for quick pay, whether you are a resident or a first-time visitor in the UAE. Here, this article intends to provide detailed information about the types of cards and their features. The RTA lets you pay for the fuel via NOL card.
What is NOL card in Dubai?
The NOL card is a smart card, also an obligatory card, which is eventually used to pay the fare during travel. The card is officially introduced by the RTA and governed by itself. It encourages people to travel stress-free.
Additionally, the card is also used to make payments for parking, shopping, restaurants, supermarkets, convenience stores, and more. Each card has five years of validity.
Types of NOL Card

There are four types of NOL cards that unveil their own consumption. It is made for the students, for business purposes, and available for the tourists from abroad.
Here is a list of the cards with their characteristics.
- Silver Card
- Gold Card
- Red ticket
- Blue (Personal) Card
Explanation
Silver Card

The silver card is a daily-use card, which is also known as a “regular” card. Thousands of people used this card for their travel purposes. The card is validated for 5 years. It allows for all the RTA transportation in Dubai.
How to Buy
Buying a card is a piece of cake; to buy a new silver card, individuals must pay around AED 25 upfront, and AED 19 is included as a bonus on your card, which you can use to kickstart your travel.
The individuals from the unnamed can reload their card up to Dh1,000, while if your card is linked to your Emirates ID, you can top up with up to Dh5,000.
Gold Card

The Gold card comes with advanced features that are usually used in the distinct cabin inside the metro and tram. If you hold this card, there is no doubt that you have access to the Dubai Metro’s luxurious gold-class seats.
Travelling by the transport costs twice as much rather than the Silver Card. The validity of this card is 5 years; thereafter, it will expire.
If you buy this card, you have to pay AED 25 upfront before getting the card, and AED 19 is included as a bonus on your card, which you can use in your itinerary.
Furthermore, the card top-up system applies to Silver Card users in the same way as anonymous users; they can top up AED 1000 and if their card is linked to the Emirates ID, they can top up up to Dh5,000.
Red ticket

The Red (ticket) card is slightly different from the Silver and the Nol card. It is like a disposable paper ticket, which is easily obtainable at any ticket vending machine. The card is often available for the residents, and the tourists who are not regular users of the metro can opt for a temporary alternative.
This card is only allowed to support RTA transportation like metro, bus and tram. It is valid for a day. There is a limit to the number of recharges; it enables you to recharge for 10 trips or 5 daily passes.
This card is purchased for AED 2 per ticket. It is valid for 90 days or 10 trips only.
Blue (Personal) Card

The Blue (Personal) Card is known for its superior privacy and offers a 50% rebate on fares. The card is linked to your Emirates ID. However, if you lose your card or it is stolen, there is no doubt that your balance is transferred to your account if you want to recover it, and it is a strength of this card.
It is used in all the modes governed by the Road and Transport Authority (RTA). The validity of the card is 5 years.
The card is purchasable at Dh70 with an extra payment of Dh20 credit. Furthermore, individuals can top-up up to Dh5,000 on this card.
Who is Eligible
To acquire the personal Nol card , the individuals must have the following eligibility criteria:
- The students from 5 to 23 can avail for the card.
- Both determined residents and tourists are 100% certain to achieve it.
- It is also available for the social affairs beneficiary.
- The senior citizens exceeding the age of 60 and the senior expats are eligible.
Required Documents
Students: The students from school or university must have a copy of a valid Emirates ID along with their personal photograph with a white background. (Recently captured photograph are more prior.) They must have any substantial evidence for proving that they are the students of the relevant school or university.
People of Determination (resident): The king of individuals must carry the valid Emirates ID along with the personal photograph with a white background and the certificate copy of the People of Determination card or Sanad Card.
People of Determination (tourist): The people must submit their official passport or ID card along with a personal photograph with a white background. Besides that, they have provided the certificate that highlights that the person is a Person of Determination.
Senior citizens: The senior citizen above 60 years must have a valid Emirates ID along with their personal photograph with a white background.
Adults: The adult must have a valid Emirates ID with a personal photograph with a white background to get the Blue (Personal) Card.
Social affairs beneficiaries: The individual must provide their official Emirates ID with a personal photograph with a white background. A copy of a letter or document from the Community Development Authority proving that they are on social assistance must be provided.
Conclusion
The Nol card plays a critical role in our daily lives, and it is also considered a lifeline if you talk about traveling. Getting the card is not more complicated either if you’re a resident or a tourist. You can also check your NOL card seamlessly with the RTA official website.
FAQs
How long does it take to receive a personal card?
It takes at least 4 business days from the date of submission of the application to receive the Nol personal card.
What are the different types of Nol cards?
There are usually four types of NOL cards: silver, gold, Blue and red.