Dubai Metro & Nol Card Guide for Tourists (2026 Fares)

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The Dubai Metro is the cheapest way to get around Dubai, and it is far easier to use than most first-time visitors expect. The catch is the ticket. You can’t pay at the gate with cash, and for many visitors the choice between a Red Ticket, a Silver card and a Gold card is the most confusing part of the trip. This guide explains each nol option with the official RTA fares, shows which one a tourist should actually buy, and covers the rules that catch people out, from tapping out to eating on the train.

Planning the rest of your trip? See how many days you need in Dubai and our Dubai 3-day itinerary. Both are built around Metro-friendly sights.

Quick answer: which nol card should a tourist buy?

For most visitors staying three days or more, the nol Silver card is the right choice. It costs AED 25, which includes AED 19 of travel credit, and every trip on it is cheaper than the same trip on a Red Ticket. Pick the Gold card only if you want the quieter Gold Class carriage and don’t mind paying double fares. The paper Red Ticket only makes sense if you will ride just once or twice.

nol card types compared (official prices)

All prices below come from the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) nol card page and nol fares page.

RTA lists the Silver and Gold cards as valid for five years, so if you come back to Dubai within that time you can reuse the same card. Keep it rather than throwing it away at the airport.

Dubai Metro fares in 2026

Dubai is divided into seven fare zones. You pay by the number of zones you cross, not by distance or the number of stops. The fares below are from the RTA fare table:

Children aged 5 and under travel free on every card type, according to RTA.

Silver card or Red Ticket: the maths

A Red Ticket costs AED 2 and then AED 1 more per trip than a Silver card on every fare band. A Silver card costs AED 25 but gives you AED 19 back as credit, so the card itself really costs AED 6. Once you take more than a handful of trips, the Silver card works out cheaper, and it also works on buses, the tram and water buses, where a paper ticket is less flexible. For a typical three to five day stay with several Metro rides a day, choose Silver.

Is the Gold card worth it?

Gold Class is a separate carriage at the front of the train, with more space and fewer people, which helps at rush hour or with luggage. RTA charges Gold card users double the standard fare. If you’re travelling as a couple on a tight budget, Silver is the better value. If you’re carrying suitcases from the airport at peak times, a Gold card for that trip can be worth paying for. Note that a Silver card does not let you sit in Gold Class: you need a Gold card or a Gold Red Ticket, and inspectors do check.

Transfers: Metro, bus and tram as one journey

RTA’s rules let you combine modes. After you tap out of the Metro, you have 30 minutes to tap in on a bus, and the two trips are charged as one journey based on the total zones crossed. RTA allows up to three transfers and a maximum journey time of 180 minutes. Switching between the Red Line and the Green Line at an interchange station such as Union or BurJuman happens inside the paid area, so you don’t tap out.

Where to buy and top up a nol card

• Ticket vending machines and ticket offices at every Metro station, including Airport Terminal 1 and Terminal 3 on the Red Line. RTA says Silver and Gold cards are sold at any ticket office.
• Top-ups can be done at station machines and counters, and through RTA’s apps. Card payment is usually accepted at machines, but carry some dirhams in case a machine is cash-only or out of order.
• Minimum balance: load at least enough for your longest trip before you tap in. The highest Silver fare is AED 7.50, so keep at least that on the card.

How to ride, step by step

1. Buy your card at the station machine or counter.
2. Tap in at the gate and wait for the beep.
3. Choose your carriage. Gold Class is at the front, and there are carriages reserved for women and children. Signs on the platform show where each one stops.
4. Ride. Announcements and screens are in English and Arabic.
5. Tap out with the same card at your destination. If you don’t tap out, the system can’t calculate your fare and can charge you the maximum.

Rules that catch tourists out

• No eating or drinking past the fare gates or on trains, and that includes water and chewing gum. Fines apply, and RTA inspectors do enforce them.
• Gold Class and the women-and-children sections are enforced. Sitting in the wrong carriage can get you fined.
• Large luggage: the Metro is fine for a carry-on and one normal suitcase, but bulky luggage can be refused. If you’re arriving with several big bags, a pre-booked car is easier (see below).
• Operating hours change on Fridays, weekends and during Ramadan and public holidays. Check the RTA website or app for current times, especially if you have an early or late flight.

Metro-friendly sights

Many of Dubai’s headline attractions are a short walk or connection from a Red Line station. The Burj Khalifa / Dubai Mall station links by a long covered walkway to the mall, the Burj Khalifa and the Dubai Fountain. Read which Burj Khalifa ticket to buy before you go. The Museum of the Future sits beside Emirates Towers station; see whether the Museum of the Future is worth it. For the Dubai Frame in Zabeel Park, read our Dubai Frame review. The Metro is also a cheap way to reach Dubai Creek for an abra ride, and the abra is one of the best nearly free things to do in Dubai.

Some places are poorly served by the Metro. Desert safaris and the Palm Jumeirah resorts are best reached by tour pickup or taxi. Our desert safari guide covers which tours include hotel transfers.

Choose a hotel near a Metro station

Staying within walking distance of a Red Line station is the single best way to cut your transport costs. Downtown, Business Bay, Al Barsha, Deira and parts of Dubai Marina all have stations nearby. Our where to stay in Dubai guide compares the areas. When you’re ready, you can compare prices on Booking.com hotels in Dubai or Agoda’s Dubai hotels; both let you filter by distance on a map, so you can check how far each hotel is from the nearest station.

When a taxi or transfer beats the Metro

The Metro doesn’t run 24 hours, and late-night or very early flights can fall outside its hours. A group of three or four people with luggage can also find a car competitive with four separate fares. For those cases, a fixed-price airport transfer from Kiwitaxi saves queuing. For a trip to Hatta, Abu Dhabi or the east coast, compare rental cars with DiscoverCars.

A data plan is also handy for live journey planning and topping up through the apps. You can install an Airalo UAE eSIM before you fly. If you want cover for delays and medical costs, compare travel insurance through Insubuy.

How much will you spend on the Metro?

For a rough budget, multiply the number of trips you expect by the fare band, then add the AED 25 card. As an example using RTA’s fares: on a Silver card, a stay with two trips a day across more than two zones costs 2 × AED 7.50 = AED 15 a day in fares. Shorter trips within one or two zones cost less. For how transport fits into a full trip budget, see how much a Dubai trip costs, and to avoid overpaying elsewhere read our list of Dubai tourist traps.

RTA also sells 7-day passes and longer passes per zone (for example, AED 110 for 7 days in all zones on Silver, per its product table). For most short holidays, paying per trip works out cheaper unless you’re travelling across the city several times a day.

FAQ: Dubai Metro and nol cards

How much is a nol card for tourists?

A Silver or Gold nol card costs AED 25, including AED 19 of travel credit. A paper Red Ticket costs AED 2 plus the fare.

Can I pay for the Dubai Metro with a bank card at the gate?

Plan to use a nol card or Red Ticket. RTA has been testing other payment options, but a nol card is the reliable way to get through the gates.

Can I share one nol card between two people?

No. Each passenger needs their own card or ticket to pass the gates.

Is the Dubai Metro worth it from the airport?

Yes, if you have light luggage and your hotel is near a Red Line station. Airport Terminals 1 and 3 have stations. With heavy bags or a late arrival, a taxi or transfer is easier.

Do nol cards expire?

RTA lists five-year validity for Silver and Gold cards.

Sources

• RTA, nol fares (zone fares, Red Ticket fares, transfer rules, pass prices): rta.ae
• RTA, choose your nol card (unit prices, credit, validity): rta.ae

Fares checked on 23 October 2026. RTA can change fares at any time, so check rta.ae before you travel.