NOL Card and Dubai Metro Questions
Straight answers about NOL cards, Dubai Metro fares and this site. Every figure here comes from RTA pages and PDFs, and the tools are checked against a fixed set of test cases on every build.
The balance check
Is the NOL balance check on this site free?
Yes, and there is no account or sign up. Enter the 10 digit tag ID, and the page copies it and opens RTA's official balance form.
Why can this site not show my balance directly?
RTA guards its balance form with a reCAPTCHA token checked on their own server. No outside website can produce that token for you, so any site claiming to show a live balance is either redirecting you or making it up. See how our balance check works.
Do you store my NOL tag ID?
No. It stays in your browser so the page can copy it for you, and the Clear button removes it. Nothing is sent to us or to any third party.
Where do I find the NOL tag ID?
On the back of a Silver, Gold or Blue card, a 10 digit number usually under the magnetic strip. It is not the longer serial number printed along the edge.
Can I check the balance without the card in hand?
Yes, if you know the tag ID. Otherwise use the NOL Pay app, which reads the card by NFC, or ask at any ticket office.
How often should I check?
Before any trip when you think the balance is near AED 7.50, because that is the minimum to pass a metro gate. More on the minimum balance.
Does checking the balance cost anything?
No. RTA does not charge for balance enquiries on the website, in the apps, at machines or through the call centre on 800 9090.
What if the RTA page says the card is invalid?
Usually the card has expired, been blocked or the digits were mistyped. Work through the common causes here.
Accuracy and data
Where do your fares come from?
The RTA nol Fares page, fetched in August 2026. The zone for each station is read from RTA's rail network map published December 2025, and journey times come from the RTA metro and tram timetable, serial REG_20251215.
How accurate is the fare calculator?
Every output is checked against a fixed set of test cases on each build, including published route fares such as Airport Terminal 3 to Burj Khalifa at AED 5. Our editorial policy explains the process.
Why is the daily cap shown with a caveat?
The AED 20 and AED 40 daily caps come from RTA's 2014 tariff revision and are not restated on the current fares page. We show them, labelled, rather than either hiding them or presenting them as confirmed.
Are the journey times estimates?
Station to station times are taken from the official timetable. Only the interchange allowance, the walk plus the average wait, is our estimate, and it is labelled wherever it appears.
How often is the data updated?
The site rebuilds every week, and the timetable is read again from RTA when they publish a new edition. Fare and card prices are verified against RTA pages on the same cycle.
I found a mistake. What now?
Tell us and it gets fixed. Report an error here, ideally with the page and the figure you saw.
NOL cards and fares
Which NOL card should I buy?
A Silver card at AED 25 suits most residents and visitors. Tourists staying a couple of days may prefer the AED 2 Red Ticket. Students, seniors and People of Determination need a Blue card for concessions. Compare all five.
How much is a Dubai Metro ticket?
AED 3 within one zone, AED 5 across two adjacent zones and AED 7.50 beyond that on a Silver card. Gold Class doubles it. Work out your own trip.
How many fare zones are there?
Seven, but only zones 1, 2, 5 and 6 contain metro or tram stations. The rest are served by buses. Look up any station's zone.
Do I pay again when I change lines?
No. Union and BurJuman are inside the paid area, and a change of mode within 30 minutes keeps the journey as a single fare.
Is a monthly pass worth it?
It depends on how often you travel. A 2 zone monthly pass at AED 230 pays for itself at about 46 trips. The calculator works it out for your pattern.
Can children travel free?
Children aged 5 and under travel free with no card. From age 5 a student Blue card halves the fare.
This site
Is this the official RTA website?
No. NOL Card Balance Online is independent and not affiliated with the Roads and Transport Authority. The official site is rta.ae, and every balance check happens there.
Who runs this site?
A small editorial team that builds transport tools. More about how and why we build it.
How is the site funded?
Through advertising. That has no bearing on the numbers, which come from RTA sources and are tested on every build.
Can I use your fare tables on my own site?
The underlying figures are RTA's and you should cite RTA. Our terms cover reuse of the pages themselves.
Still stuck? Tell us what you were looking for and we will answer it, and add it here if others need it too.