DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority says it has completed 72% of the upgrade of the Nol system, a move that will shift the city’s public transport payment platform from card-based ticketing to a more advanced digital model.
The project is designed to introduce account-based ticketing, giving riders more payment options across Dubai’s transport network. RTA said the full rollout is expected to be finished by the end of the first quarter of 2027.
Mattar Al Tayer, director-general and chairman of the board of executive directors at RTA, said the upgrade is part of a broader digital transformation strategy. He said the new system will create a more integrated payment structure across transport services and improve efficiency and convenience for customers.
The project will be delivered in three stages. The first will introduce QR code ticketing through digital channels. The second will launch a new generation of Nol cards built on updated technology and linked more directly to customer accounts. The final stage will expand support for bank cards and digital wallets.
RTA said the new system will allow users to create personal accounts, connect Nol cards to those accounts and manage family members’ cards in one place. Customers will also be able to set automatic top-ups, track transactions, block lost cards and recover balances more easily.
The authority said the upgrade will also support the use of Nol cards on smartphones and broaden the range of payment methods available at public transport stations and kiosks.
Beyond transport, the new system is expected to extend Nol usage into retail and other digital channels across the UAE, allowing the card to function more like a general payment tool.
The Nol system was launched in 2009 alongside Dubai Metro and has since become a key part of daily travel in the city. RTA has continued to expand its role in recent years through student discounts, tourist travel products and payments for e-scooters.
Officials said the latest upgrade is meant to support Dubai’s cashless strategy and strengthen the emirate’s smart-city ambitions as public transport becomes increasingly digital.
