How much is a Nol card?

AED 25 for the silver card, and AED 19 of that is travel credit — so the card itself effectively costs six dirhams. Buy the silver one. That is the answer for almost every visitor, and the other options exist for reasons that will not apply to you.

The three cards

What journeys then cost

Fares are charged by zone:

• Within one zone — AED 3
• Two zones — AED 5
• Three or more — AED 7.50

A day pass exists at around AED 20, but for most visitors pay-as-you-go on the silver card is both simpler and cheaper.

Where to buy it

Every Metro station, and at the airport — the Red Line has stations inside Terminals 1 and 3. The counter and the machines both take cards, so you do not need dirhams in hand when you land.

Two things people get wrong

• One card can be shared by adults travelling together. Tap it once per person on the way in and once per person on the way out.
• Tap out as well as in. Forgetting the exit tap charges you the maximum fare, and this is the most common way visitors lose money on the Metro.

The same card works on the Dubai Tram and the buses. It does not work on the Palm Monorail, which is a separate system.

Lines, hours, the stations that matter and the rules people get fined for are in the Dubai Metro and Nol card guide. For arrival specifically, see DXB to your hotel.

Fares verified August 2026 — the RTA changes them periodically. See our editorial policy.