Quick answer
Digital nol QR tickets are available through the nol Pay and S’hail apps for Dubai Metro, buses and Tram. A one-day pass expires at midnight on its activation date, so it does not provide a rolling 24 hours of travel.
Key takeaways
- Available through nol Pay and S’hail
- Usable on Dubai Metro, buses and Tram
- A one-day pass ends at midnight on its activation date
Dubai’s public transport passengers have another way to travel: digital nol QR tickets are now available through the nol Pay and S’hail apps for use on the Metro, buses and Tram. RTA’s official guide explains how to scan them, while The National’s 10 October report independently confirms the launch.
The option is particularly relevant to occasional riders and visitors who would otherwise buy a red paper ticket. Existing silver, gold and personal nol cards remain valid, according to The National, so regular passengers do not need to assume their current card has stopped working.
How do you use a digital nol QR ticket?
Choose the ticket in one of the supported apps before reaching the reader. RTA’s service information lists single-trip tickets and one-day passes, with regular and Gold travel-class options. Check the selected journey, zones and class carefully before completing your purchase.
At a Metro gate, present the code to the reader and hold the phone steady until the ticket is validated. On a bus, RTA says to hold the phone over the red nol reader near the entrance with the screen facing up. Tram passengers should follow the scanner prompts at the station.
Keep the ticket accessible throughout the journey. RTA’s service details say the digital code refreshes automatically and requires an internet connection, so prepare your phone before joining a gate queue. Keep enough battery for the whole trip and use the live ticket inside the app.
When does the one-day pass expire?
An unused digital ticket can be bought up to 90 days before its first use. For the one-day pass, the travel day begins with the first tap and ends at midnight that same day. Starting at 11pm therefore does not extend validity into the following evening.
Before choosing a pass, compare it with your planned trips and the fare displayed in the app. This update does not quote a universal fare because the ticket type and class matter.
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Cover image: AI-generated transport illustration; the pictured code and interface are illustrative.
