Register nol card to use fare system

Payment system is aimed at saving traveller money.

The Dubai Tram near the Jumeirah Beach Residence along the Al Sufouh track. RTA is campaigning to attract passengers to the new service with a competitive fares structure. Sarah Dea / The National

DUBAI // Customers must register existing silver and gold Nol fare cards to avail of the weekly, monthly, yearly pass system starting November 11.

Senior citizens and students require blue personalised Nol cards to be eligible for 50 per cent fare concession.

The Nol card is a smart card for the use of various public transport in Dubai.

“The tram is new and nice, but in terms of travelling it’s one of the modes of transport,” said Abdulla Al Madani, chief executive of the RTA’s corporate technical support services sector.

“When the customer decides from which point to which point he wants to go, if these points are within the same zone, he pays the first level regardless if he started in the tram and comes out of the metro.

“If he crosses two zones, he pays level 2 and if he goes 3 zones and above, there is a third and final level for travelling across all zones.”

The seven zones are split into three levels with rising fare structure for passes.

So, a week’s pass on a standard silver Nol card moves from Dh50 for one zone, to Dh80 for two and Dh110 for three or more zones. However, if a commuter lives on the edge of one zone and travels to the border of the second and commutes less than 3km, he will be charged for one zone only.

Commuters still have three hours on the same fare within a zone and can switch modes of transport three times if changes were made within 30 minutes. It could take between 10 and 14 days to receive a new blue personalised card so residents can apply now at station kiosks, online or mobile applications.

“But you don’t have to wait for the blue card, because you can get packages on your silver or gold cards,” said Khaled Abdul Rahman Al Awadhi, the RTA’s director of the automated collection systems department.

“The only difference is the blue card is customised because of discounts for seniors and students to make sure it is the right person.”

To convert a regular silver or gold card into monthly or yearly passes, commuters can simply provide a photo identity, mobile number and email address.

Existing amounts on cards converted into passes can still be used for parking and zones not included in the package.

New fares show about Dh1 increase for commuters using standard cards and not packages.

Instead of the Dh2.3 minimum for one zone, the rate will be Dh3 from November 11.

Commuters who paid Dh4.1 for two zones will pay Dh5 and Dh7.5 instead of Dh5.8 for three or more zones.

RTA officials said the aim was to focus on the majority daily users. “It is our regular 92 per cent users we are trying to push to use packages because monthly, annual fares will benefit them,” said Moaza Al Marri, director of RTA marketing and corporate communication.