Dubai’s public transport payment system is moving towards a more digital experience, and passengers are already beginning to see the first major change.
The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has launched the first phase of its nol system upgrade, allowing passengers to buy and use QR-code tickets directly from their phones. The wider transformation is expected to make physical nol cards less essential as additional digital payment options are introduced.
For anyone who regularly uses the Dubai Metro, Tram or buses, the changes could eventually mean leaving the traditional nol card at home.
You can now use your phone for a QR ticket
The first phase of the upgraded system introduces QR-code ticketing through digital channels.
Passengers can purchase a QR ticket through the nol Pay or S’hail apps, then use the code on their smartphone to access participating public transport services.
The QR code can be scanned at the relevant gates, removing the need for a printed ticket.
The system currently covers Dubai Metro, Dubai Tram and buses, giving passengers another way to pay for journeys without relying solely on a physical nol card.
Credit: Photo edited by Canva.com
More nol changes are coming
The QR ticket system is only the first stage of RTA’s wider upgrade.
The authority announced in July that 72 per cent of the nol system upgrade had been completed, with the full project scheduled for completion by the end of the first quarter of 2027.
The transformation is being carried out in three main phases.
The first introduces QR-code tickets through digital channels. The second will bring a new generation of nol cards, while the final stage will add support for other payment methods, including bank cards and digital wallets.
Your bank card or digital wallet could eventually be enough
The biggest change for everyday commuters is expected in the final phase.
RTA plans to allow passengers to pay public transport fares using bank cards and digital wallets. This means travellers could eventually use compatible payment methods on their phones instead of carrying a separate nol card.
However, the full replacement of physical nol cards has not happened yet. The QR ticketing service is already being introduced, while bank card and digital wallet payments form part of the later stages of the upgrade.
So, for now, passengers should not assume that a smartphone alone can replace every type of nol card journey.
New nol accounts will make card management easier
The upgraded system is also designed to move nol towards an account-based ticketing system.
Customers will be able to create personal accounts and connect their nol cards to them. Family members’ cards can also be linked, allowing multiple cards to be managed through one account.
RTA has also outlined features including:
- Automatic balance top-ups linked to banking services
- Transaction history and daily statements
- The ability to block cards
- Balance recovery
- Management of multiple linked nol cards
- QR-code ticket purchases through digital channels
- Support for flexible fares across public transport
These features are intended to make managing public transport payments less dependent on the individual physical card.
Credit: Photo edited by Canva.com
What happens to the physical nol card?
Physical nol cards are not being discontinued immediately.
RTA’s upgrade includes a new generation of nol cards alongside digital payment methods. These cards will use newer technology and be digitally connected to customer accounts.
The authority also plans to expand the functionality of nol beyond public transport, with the next-generation cards expected to support purchases through digital channels and participating retail outlets across the UAE.
For now, existing nol card users can continue using their cards while the new system is rolled out.
When will the full nol upgrade be completed?
RTA says the complete transformation is scheduled for the end of Q1 2027.
That means the move from the current card-based system towards a more flexible account-based payment system will happen in stages rather than all at once.
For Dubai commuters, the immediate change is QR-code ticketing. Further developments, including bank card and digital wallet payments, are expected as the remaining phases are implemented.
The result could eventually be a Dubai public transport system where your phone, bank card or digital wallet can be enough to pay for a journey, without needing to remember a separate Nol card every time you leave home.