Check NOL Card Balance Online in [2025]

Being a newcomer in a bustling city like Dubai is a wonderful experience. You might be a tourist curious to explore the city’s attractions or a job seeker who has recently landed and is heading towards job interviews. In any case, your top priority must be finding affordable and convenient transportation.

One of the most efficient ways while travelling in Dubai is by using the NOL card which gives you access to buses, trams, metro trains, and even water taxis. But as per my experience, running out of balance in the middle of a journey can be very frustrating. To avoid any inconvenience, it’s always a good idea to check your NOL card balance before you leave home.

Check NOL Card Balance

Let’s have a look at what the NOL card actually is, and explore the easiest ways to stay updated on your remaining balance.

What is a NOL Card?

NOL card is an electronic prepaid card which allows you to travel easily in Dubai by simply tapping it on card readers in Metro stations, buses, and taxis. Developed by a Hong Kong-based company, Octopus Cards, the NOL Card was initially designed for transportation purposes only.

However, its usage has expanded over the years. Today, it’s a multipurpose payment card that can be used for various other services such as shopping, paying fines, and parking lots.

Since its launch in August 2009, the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) of Dubai has issued over 30 million NOL Cards to date. The daily usage has reached around 2.5 million payment transactions, which shows the card’s vital role in the city’s day to day life.

The Three Easiest ways to Check NOL Card Balance

A huge number of residents search google each day about the ways they can find out their available Balance. If you are one of them, let’s briefly discuss the three easiest methods to keep you updated on your balance in real time.

Check Your NOL Balance Through RTA’s Official Website

The easiest and most convenient way to check your balance is by visiting the RTA’s official website. Follow this step-by-step guide to proceed:

Visit RTA’s Website: Visit the official RTA website.
Select NOL Balance: From the available options, select “Check NOL Balance.”
Enter Your NOL Tag ID: Input your NOL Tag ID in the required field.
Tap Search: Click on Search to proceed.

View Your Balance: The screen will display your available balance, pending credits, and the expiry date of your card.

By following these simple steps, you can easily keep track of your available balance.

Pro Tip: If you are out of balance, check multiple methods on how to recharge your NOL Card.

Check NOL Card Balance Using RTA Dubai Mobile App

Another convenient method which most of the users might not be aware of is to use the RTA Dubai App, an official mobile application by the government.

To check your NOL Card balance through the app follow these steps to get started:

Download the App: Install the RTA Dubai app from the Google Play Store or the App Store.
Open the App: Launch the app on your mobile device.
Continue as a Guest: Click on “Continue as a guest” No registration or login is required.
Select “Top Up NOL Card”: Choose the “Top Up NOL Card” option on the the homepage.

select top up nol card in rta dubai mobile app

Enter Your NOL Tag ID: Input the 10 digits of your NOL Tag ID from your card.

View Your Balance: The app will display your available balance on the screen.

view your nol card balance in rta dubai app

This method is a quick and easy way to stay updated on your balance anytime, anywhere.

Metro Stations to Physically Check Your NOL Card Balance

If you don’t have access to an internet connection, you can always check your available NOL balance at any nearby metro station in Dubai. When travelling across the city, follow these steps:

Enter the Metro Station: Go to your nearest metro station.
NOL Card Vending Machine: Look for the NOL Card vending machine.
Insert Your Card: Place your card in the designated slot.
Check Your Balance: The machine will automatically display your current balance at the bottom of the screen.

Where Can You Use a NOL Card?

As previously discussed, the NOL Card was initially developed for paying transportation fares on the metro, taxis, and buses. However, it has now become a multipurpose micropayment card that can be used for various other activities.

Here are some of the merchants where you can pay using your NOL Card:

Lulu SuperMarkets
All Day Convenience stores
Aster Pharmacies
IMG Theme Park
London Diary
Aswaaq SuperMarkets
Burger King
Carrefour
Gloria Jeans
Tasjeel
ENOC/EPPCO

Pro Tip: Please note that the NOL Card has a daily spending limit of 200/- AED, and you won’t be able to spend more than that amount in a single day.

Where to Buy a Nol Card?

You can purchase NOL Cards from any of the metro stations, vending machines, sales offices, and RTA’s authorised sales agents.

When I first had the experience of exploring Dubai through the metro, I bought my Silver NOL Card for 25/- AED which came with 19/- AED credit from the sales office in Baniyas Square Metro Station, Deira.

Nowadays, you can buy it directly from the vending machine.

How to Check NOL Card Transactions History

For whatever reasons, if you want to check the transaction history of your NOL card, it’s very simple and straightforward.

Visit RTA’s official website.
Click on Public Transport.
Select NOL.
Click on “NOL Card transactions history”.
Lastly, Enter your card’s tag id in the required field, and click next.
Your transaction history will be shown on your screen.

Types of Nol Card

There are four types of NOL cards that provide different benefits to their users. Based on the following details, you can select which one best fits your needs.

Silver Card

Silver Card is the regular NOL Card which is recommended for frequent travellers. People who commute to their workplaces use this on a daily basis. You can register and link this with your Emirates ID to make it personalised and be eligible for a maximum top up of 5000/- AED. The anonymous Sliver Card’s limit is just 1000/- AED.

Price: 25/- AED
Upfront Credit: 19/- AED
Validity: 5 Years

Gold Card

The Gold card is similar to the Silver Card but comes with some extra benefits at double fare as compared to the regular ones. People with this card have access to separate cabins with premium seats.

Price: 25/- AED
Upfront Credit: 19/- AED
Maximum Limit for Anonymous Users: 1000/- AED
Maximum Limit for Registered Users: 5000/- AED
Validity: 5 Years

Personal Card (Blue)

Personal Card often referred to as the Blue Card is specially designed to offer security and a 50% concessions to certain travellers. These people include students, people of determination, social affairs beneficiaries, and senior citizens which includes emiratis, expats, and tourists.

Personal NOL Card is linked with Emirates ID and provides security to recover your balance if it got lost or stolen. You can also secure online top up credit with this card.

In order to be eligible for a personal Card you need the following documents:

For Students: A valid document such as a student card that proves you are a student.

Senior Citizens: Copy of the valid Emirates ID from both sides.

People of Determination (Resident): You have to provide both sides of the Emirates ID, a personal photograph with a white background, and both sides of the people of the determination card or sanad card.

People of Determination (Tourist): If you are a tourist in the UAE, you need to provide a personal photograph in the white background along with the copy of your passport, and any document from the competent authorities in your home country that proves you are a person of determination.

Social Affairs Beneficiaries: Along with the copy of a valid Emirates ID from both front and back side, you need a recent photograph with a white background, and an official letter from the community development authority that states your entitlement for the social assistance.

Price: 70/- AED
Upfront Credit: 20/- AED
Maximum Balance Limit: 5000/- AED
Validity: 5 Years

Red Ticket

This is a temporary disposable paper ticket which is recommended for short term tourists and those who do not frequently travel through the metro, bus, or tram. Red tickets cannot be used for taxis, water buses, or water taxis, etc.

Price: 2/- AED
Maximum Balance Limit: It can be used only for 5 daily passes or only rechargeable for a maximum of 10 journeys
Validity: 90 Days or 10 Trips.

Benefits of RTA Nol Card

There are a number of benefits for being a NOL Card user in Dubai. Some of them for you are:

You can pay for paid parking on the same card, no need for another payment.
You can travel on metro, taxis, trams, water buses, water taxis with a single card.
You don’t need to carry cash or change with you.
You can save quite enough due to the low cost fares flexible modes of transportation.
If you are a person of determination, a student, or a senior citizen, you can enjoy concessions.
You can choose from a number of cards according to your needs.
You can use your NOL Card as a micropayment card for shopping etc.

NOL Card System Upgrade Update

As of March 2025, Dubai’s RTA is upgrading the NOL Card system to switch from a physical card-based system to a modern account-based ticketing system. Recent updates show the upgrade is 40% complete and will finish fully by Q3 of 2026, costing Dh550 million.

This upgrade will link NOL Cards to digital accounts, making them work with bank cards, digital wallets, and new features like:

QR code tickets (scan a code to ride).
Automatic top-ups.
Fingerprint authentication.
Use beyond transport.

The new system will make traveling—and even shopping—easier for everyone in the UAE!

FAQs

Visit rta.ae, click on “NOL Card Balance” option on the homepage, write your 10 digits NOL tag id, and click search. Your current balance will be shown on your screen.

A Nol Card is valid for 5 years.

Checking your NOL card validity, and balance is the same. Once you visit the official RTA website and enter your 10 digits NOL Card tag ID, you will be shown your validity along with your current balance.

While travelling on Metro or a bus, you need to tap your Card both on entry and exit on the Card reader until it shows a green signal with a beep sound. The amount will be deducted automatically once you tap it on the exit.

Silver & Gold Card cost 25/- AED each, the Personal card AED 75 while the red ticket cost only 2/- AED.

Not every NOL card is linked with the Emirates ID. Only the Personal Card is linked as it requires valid documentation. However, you can personalise the Silver & Gold Card by linking your Emirates ID with it.

You can only submit a request for a registered or Personal card on RTA’s official website or NOL Pay application, incase if it has been stolen or got lost. You will have the option to refund the amount in cash or transfer it to an alternative card (Registered/Personal).

No, two people cannot use one NOL card at the same time. One card is for a single person only. One tap – entry, second tap – exit. However, if you are not travelling, your unregistered card can be used by another person.

Yes, you can return your card at the ticket offices in any of the Metro Stations in Dubai.

Yes, you can make your card virtual by adding it up on the NOL Pay app in your mobile phone.

Being a resident of Dubai, it’s almost impossible that you can go without using a NOL card. From metro to tram rides, and now even shopping, the NOL card has become an important part of daily life.

This article shared detailed information on how to get a NOL card, check its balance, know its four types, and understand its benefits. Having this information, you are now ready to make the most out of Dubai’s convenient and efficient transportation system.

Check NOL Card Balance Online in [2025] – RTA Dubai