Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority(RTA) will roll out new nol cards and intends to phase out the present nol cards by the first quarter of 2027. The new stack will have QR tickets, digital wallets, bank cards and a new generation of nol cards, offering riders more payment options on buses, metro, tram and associated services.
The RTA has completed 72 per cent of its nol payment makeover, moving the system from card-based ticketing to account-based ticketing across the public transport network in the emirate. Mattar Al Tayer said the scheme will connect transport modes and services through a unified payment layer and reduce friction at stations and service locations.
RTA had initially pegged the project cost at $149.8 million (AED 550 million), with the aim of completing it by the end of Q3 2026. The RTA’s update in March 2025 stated 40 per cent of the work was complete. The July 2026 update raises that to 72% and pushes the completion line into Q1 2027.RTA has divided the roll-out into three segments. Phase one will provide QR code ticketing via digital channels, allowing riders to buy and validate tickets without depending solely on plastic media.
In phase two, new nol cards will be introduced, based on payment technologies in line with worldwide banking standards. Phase three will see fare payment via bank cards and digital wallets being introduced on all of Dubai’s public transport, removing the need for dedicated transit cards at gates, readers and kiosks.
Also Read:
Dr. Sofica Bistriceanu: Bridging Medicine, Research, And Human Connection
Volkan Çalışıyor — Redefining Design Through Strategy, Technology & Multidisciplinary Thinking
