Getting around Dubai without a physical NOL card is now possible. The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has introduced digital QR tickets that residents and tourists can buy and use straight from their phones. You can get single-trip tickets or one-day passes through the NOL Pay or S’hail apps, then scan your phone at the reader.
Here’s how it works, what it costs, and a few rules worth knowing before your first ride.
How to Buy a Digital QR Ticket
You can buy a ticket before you reach the station or board a bus. The steps are simple:
- Open the nol Pay or S’hail app. On nol Pay, sign in with UAE Pass or continue as a guest.
- Choose your ticket type, single trip or 1 Day Pass.
- Pick your journey by travel zone (one zone, two adjacent zones, or all zones), or select your start point and destination.
- Choose how many tickets you need.
- Pick your travel class, Regular or Gold.
- Pay.
The QR ticket appears in the app right away.
One important thing: you need an active internet connection to show and use your ticket. Screenshots won’t work because the QR code refreshes on its own.
How to Scan Your Ticket
Metro: Open the ticket and hold your phone with the QR code facing the scanner at the blue entry gate. Keep it steady until it’s accepted.
Bus: Open the ticket and hold your phone over the red NOL reader near the entrance, with the screen facing up, until it’s validated.
Tram: Show the QR ticket and scan it at the designated NOL reader.
How Much Do QR Tickets Cost?
Every QR ticket purchase carries an extra Dh2 service fee per transaction. The fares below already include it.
| Ticket | Regular Class | Gold Class |
|---|---|---|
| Single trip, one zone | Dh6 | Dh10 |
| Single trip, two adjacent zones | Dh8 | Dh14 |
| Single trip, all zones | Dh10.50 | Dh19 |
| One day pass | Dh22 | Dh42 |
Single trip tickets can be bought for specific zones, while one day passes cover all zones by default.
How Long Is a QR Ticket Valid?
An unused ticket stays valid for 90 days from the day you buy it, so you can buy early and travel later. A one day pass works differently. Once you activate it, it’s valid only until midnight that day, not for a full 24 hours.
Can You Buy More Than One Ticket?
Yes. You can buy several tickets in one go. After you use one, tap “Next” in the app to bring up the next QR code. But each ticket is personal, so you can’t share, transfer or forward it to another passenger.
Can You Get a Refund?
You can get cash back for an unused QR ticket at Ticket Office Machines, as long as:
- You ask within 30 days of buying it
- The ticket hasn’t been used
- The QR code is valid and can be checked
A Dh2 refund fee applies per ticket. Tickets that have been copied, shared, tampered with or invalidated through misuse can’t be refunded or replaced.
Also keep in mind that these tickets work only on Dubai Metro, Tram and public buses, not on any other transport service.
A Few Quick Tips
Charge your phone and check your signal before you head out, since the ticket won’t load without internet. Buy your ticket before you reach the gate, so you’re not holding up the queue. And if you’re traveling with friends or family, buy each person their own ticket.
Skip the Parking Stress
Public transport is a smart option when roads get busy or parking is tight. Big events are a good example. If you’re heading out for the festive season, our list of where to dance this Navratri in Dubai has five Garba and Dandiya nights worth checking, and taking the Metro where you can may save you a long hunt for a spot.
If you do drive, it pays to know what to do if something goes wrong. Coming back to a dent and no driver is stressful, so read up on how to report a hit and run in Dubai before it happens to you.
QR tickets make the Metro, bus and tram easier, especially for visitors who don’t want to buy a card. Fares run from Dh6 for a single trip to Dh42 for a Gold one-day pass, with a Dh2 fee built in. Just remember that screenshots won’t work, a live internet connection is a must, and each ticket belongs to one person. Get those basics right, and your ride should be smooth.