More Metro Users Shift to Digital nol Top-Ups in 2025

In the first half of 2025, more people in Dubai started using digital ways to top up their nol cards, which are used to pay for metro, tram, and other public transport services. The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has been working hard to make travel smoother, faster, and more convenient. To help with this, RTA has made it easier for users to recharge their nol cards online or through machines instead of using cash or going to ticket counters.

This move to digital is part of RTA’s long-term plan to make public transportation services better, improve customer happiness, and reduce problems for passengers. The shift in how people pay shows that these efforts are working.

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What Is a nol Card?

Before we go deeper, let’s understand what a nol card is. A nol card is a smart card used in Dubai for paying fares on all public transport, including:

• Dubai Metro

• Dubai Tram

• Public Buses

• Water Buses

• Some taxis

• Parking meters

You can top up the card with money and use it for travel. You can recharge your nol card at ticket vending machines, RTA sales offices, the RTA website, and other digital payment options.

What Did the RTA Do?

In the past year, the RTA introduced several changes to make it easier for people to use digital services for nol top-ups. Here are some of the key steps taken:

1. Smart Ticket Vending Machines:
   These new machines are faster and more user-friendly. People can easily recharge their nol cards without needing cash.

2. More Online Options:
   The RTA website and mobile apps became more advanced. Passengers could top up their cards from home or on the go.

3. Awareness Campaigns:
   RTA ran campaigns to educate people on how to use digital methods. These helped many users learn how to recharge their nol cards without needing to go to a physical counter.

4. Minimum Top-Up Increased:
   To make digital use more attractive, RTA raised the minimum top-up amount for nol cards at vending machines and sales offices. This helped reduce the number of small cash transactions.

Results of These Changes

After all these updates, a clear change in people’s behavior was seen during the first half of 2025 when compared to the same time in 2024.

1. Less Use of Traditional Ticket Machines

There was a 28% drop in the number of top-up transactions made using traditional ticket vending machines. This means that many people chose other digital ways to add money to their nol cards.

2. More Use of Digital Ticket Machines

While regular top-ups dropped, digital top-ups using smart vending machines increased by 20% compared to last year. This shows that people are trusting and using the new digital machines more often.

3. Decline in Sales Office Transactions

Sales offices at metro stations also saw fewer top-ups:

• Cash Top-Ups Fell by 37%
  Many users avoided going to the counter and paying in cash, likely because of the raised minimum top-up limit.

• Digital Top-Ups Fell by 6%
  Even digital transactions at the sales offices dropped slightly, showing that users prefer using vending machines or online options instead.

• Overall Drop in Sales Office Use: 26%
  This includes both cash and digital transactions. The big picture is clear—people are moving away from physical counters.

Why Are These Changes Important?

This shift to digital brings many benefits not just for passengers but also for RTA and the city’s public transport system.

1. Less Congestion at Stations

Fewer people waiting in line at ticket machines and sales offices means less crowding. This makes metro stations more comfortable and organized, especially during peak hours.

2. Faster and Easier for Passengers

Using digital methods is often faster than using cash or waiting in line. You can recharge your nol card while sitting at home, or even while walking to the metro.

3. Lower Operational Costs

Handling cash involves a lot of time and effort. Staff are needed to collect, count, and deposit money. By reducing cash transactions, RTA saves money and can use those savings to improve other services.

4. Fewer Machine Breakdowns

Fewer people using the machines for top-ups led to 80% fewer technical breakdowns. This means less trouble for passengers and less need for repairs.

What Does This Mean for the Future?

The trend of moving to digital channels is likely to continue. RTA wants to make travel in Dubai smoother and more modern. As more people become comfortable with technology, digital payments will become the norm.

Here are some likely future changes:

• Even more advanced digital ticketing options

• Easier nol card management through apps

• Fewer physical sales offices

• More rewards or benefits for people using online options

RTA may also keep pushing awareness campaigns to teach even more people how to use these services.

A Word from RTA

RTA has always said its goal is to “ensure the happiness of all segments of society.” By improving technology and services, they are working to make sure everyone—students, workers, tourists, and residents—can travel easily and safely.

They believe that by encouraging people to use digital services, public transport in Dubai becomes more reliable, cost-effective, and user-friendly.

A Smart Step Towards a Digital Future

In short, the first half of 2025 has shown a strong move by the public towards digital services for nol card top-ups. With fewer cash transactions and more use of smart machines and online tools, Dubai is clearly stepping into a smarter, easier transport future.

Thanks to the RTA’s efforts, people are finding it simpler and faster to travel across the city. And as this trend continues, we can expect an even better and smoother public transport experience for everyone.

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