Paying for a metro ride or bus trip in Dubai will soon be as simple as tapping a bank card or phone wallet. The Roads and Transport Authority is overhauling its nol payment system to accept these methods, and the agency reports that the work is now 72 percent complete. The full rollout is expected by the end of the first quarter of 2027.
The upgrade moves the network from card-based ticketing to account-based ticketing, a digital model that connects fares directly to individual customer accounts. Once in place, it will rank among the most advanced systems of its kind worldwide, built to align with international standards in digital payments and financial technology.
Mattar Al Tayer, Director General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors at the RTA, tied the acceptance of new payment methods to a wider modernization effort. “The new system will deliver a step change in the customer experience by expanding payment options and enabling modern, diverse payment methods, streamlining procedures and making services easier to access. It also reinforces nol card’s position as one of the most advanced and comprehensive digital payment solutions, supports the Dubai Cashless Strategy, and strengthens integration across various economic and service sectors, making nol an everyday payment tool that supports Dubai’s drive towards the digital economy and smart cities.”
The shift to bank card and digital wallet acceptance arrives in the final stage of a three-part rollout. Al Tayer explained that the opening phase introduces QR code ticketing through digital platforms, followed by a redesigned generation of nol cards engineered to global specifications, with compatibility for bank card technology and automatic linkage to customer accounts at purchase. The concluding phase completes the upgrade by opening fare payment to bank cards and digital wallets.
To support the change, station hardware including smart kiosks and payment devices is being upgraded, allowing travelers to settle fares by QR ticket, next-generation nol card, bank card, or digital wallet.
Al Tayer framed the broader significance of the project in terms of the authority’s digital goals. “The nol system upgrade marks a strategic step in RTA’s comprehensive digital transformation journey and represents a strategic investment in the future of digital services. It will enable RTA to develop a unified, more integrated payment ecosystem linking various modes of transport and services, while delivering the highest levels of operational efficiency and customer convenience.”
Beyond transport, the redesigned nol cards will function much like a conventional bank card, letting holders shop at retail outlets throughout the UAE and across digital channels.
For riders, the account-based model brings a set of management tools. Al Tayer noted that customers will be able to open accounts, connect their own nol cards along with those of family members, adjust profiles, assign top-up amounts to each linked card, and enable automatic reloads through a linked bank account. Statement tracking, card blocking, and balance recovery round out the available features.
The nol system first launched on September 9, 2009, alongside the opening of Dubai Metro. Since then, the RTA has extended nol payments to e-scooters and other soft mobility options in support of its first- and last-mile connectivity strategy, a step it counts among the earliest applications of its kind anywhere.
