QR codes, digital wallets and more: big upgrades coming to nol cards

Back in March 2025, the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) announced major upgrades to nol cards, and a recent update revealed the project is now 72% complete. It will be the biggest overhaul to the nol cards since their launch in 2009.

The upgrade will replace the existing card-based ticketing system with a more advanced account-based ticketing (ABT) platform, bringing Dubai’s public transport network in line with the latest developments in digital payments and financial technology (fintech).

When it launches in early 2027, the new system will allow commuters to pay using QR codes, digital wallets, bank cards and next-generation nol cards.

A three-phase rollout

The project is being implemented in three phases.

nol card in Dubai

Phase 1: The first phase will introduce QR-code ticketing via digital platforms, allowing passengers to purchase and validate tickets directly on their phones.

Phase 2: The second phase will introduce a new generation of nol cards featuring advanced technology, digitally linked to customer accounts for easier management.

Phase 3: The final phase will enable commuters to pay directly using bank cards and digital wallets across Dubai’s public transport network, further reducing reliance on physical transit cards.

Under the upgraded system, customers will be able to create personal accounts; link multiple nol cards – including those of family members; and manage balances from a single platform. The digital platform will also enable automatic top-ups linked to bank accounts, alongside features such as viewing transaction history and blocking cards if needed.

Mattar Al Tayer, Director General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors at the RTA, said the project marks a major milestone in the authority’s digital transformation journey, adding: “It will create a unified and integrated payment ecosystem connecting multiple transport modes and services while enhancing operational efficiency and customer convenience.”

Once complete, the nol card will also extend beyond transport, functioning more like a bank card and allowing customers to make payments across retail stores and digital channels in the UAE.

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Images: RTA