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"The Unified Nol Card, which will be unleashed with the start of passenger service of Dubai Metro, offers smooth & comfortable service to users of Dubai Metro, Public Buses, Water Bus and Paid Parking Zones. The name "Nol" was branded to the card as it is an authentic Arabic word meaning "Fare" or "Cost of using transport"
"The logo of the Unified Nol Card was designed to replicate the unified identity of transport systems, with a symbolic reference to the seamless flow of various transport modes in Dubai. It illustrates the continuous mobility of commuters between various transport modes without stopovers; where the flowing lines depict the smooth mobility of transport, and the thin lines enrich the card, providing added value and protection to the card against counterfeiting".
Al Tayer went further to say: "While assessing the fare of mass transit systems, RTA was keen to have in place fares affordable to all, as we were seeking to encourage citizens, residents and visitors to use to use mass transit modes in an effort to make public transport the ideal choice of population. Under the Project, it was decided to divide the emirate of Dubai into five mobility zones, and offer Metro Park-and-Ride facilities free of charge to public transport users, while for non-public transport users a fee of Dhs10 per hour or Dhs50 per day will be charged.
Nol Cards comprise four types: Nol Silver Card, Nol Blue Card, Nol Gold Card, and Nol Red Ticket.
RTA was keen to have Nol Cards offered at diverse sale outlets such that they can be purchased and topped-up at Ticket Booths and Ticketing Vending Machines in all Dubai Metro stations, different bus stations, RTA Customer Service Centers, and at RTA authorized sales agents. Nol Cards are easily obtained and used as the user has just got to top-up the card in order to use it for boarding various transport modes. The fare will automatically be deducted depending on the use. The Card, which is modeled after international standards, is manufactured by more than one supplier, rendering it safe and difficult to counterfeit.
Moreover, the Card has been designed with a view to addressing future requirements of e-payment systems i.e. to allow for the possibility of adding several and diverse uses.
"There are two categories of Nol Cards: Unified Paper Ticket issued at a Dhs2 cost, and Unified E-Card issued at a Dhs6 cost. The fare of a single short journey not exceeding 3 km using the paper ticket is Dhs2. The fare of travel within a single zone is Dhs2.50, whereas it is Dhs4.50 in two neighboring zones and Dhs6.50 in 3 zones or more.
The fare in the Gold Class for a short distance journey not exceeding 3 km is Dhs4; whereas it is Dhs5 for a single zone, Dhs9 for 2 zones and Dhs13 for 3 zones or more. The cost of 10 journeys for short distances not exceeding 3 km is Dhs20, whereas it Dhs25 in a single zone, Dhs45 in two zones and Dhs65 in three zones or more. A one-day travel pass is Dhs14.
"The fare of travel using Unified e-Card in a short journey not exceeding 3 km is Dhs1.80, whereas it is Dhs2.30 for a journey in a single zone, Dhs4.10 for a journey in two neighboring zones, and Dhs5.80 for a journey in three or more zones. The fare of travel in a single journey using Gold Card is Dhs3.60 for a short journey not exceeding 3km, whereas it is Dhs4.60 for a journey in a single zone, Dhs8.20 for a journey in two neighboring zones, and Dhs11.60 for a journey in 3 or more zones. The travel fare using a 30-day pass in short journeys within a single zone is Dhs100, whereas it is Dhs180 in two zones and Dhs270 in three zones or more" continued Al Tayer.
RTA Chairman of the Board and Executive Director further added: "RTA was keen on fixing discounted fares for elderly as well as schools and college students. Here it was decided to fix the fare of travel using the Unified e-Card as 90 fils in short trips not exceeding 3 km, whereas it will be Dhs1.15 in a single zone, Dhs2.05 in two zones and Dhs2.90 in three zones or more. As for elderly, a 30-day pass is Dhs200; whereas it will be Dhs170 for students".
For his part Ramadan Abdullah, Director of the Unified Card Department elaborated on the types of various cards and said: "Nol Silver Card has an e-purse rechargeable up to Dhs500, and the journey fare is calculated automatically based on the fare table. This card can be purchased from any ticket booth and some ticket vending machines at a price of Dhs6 for the card and an initial balance of Dhs14 rechargeable. This Card can be used immediately upon purchase, rechargeable at any ticket booth and valid for five years.
Nol Blue Card is a personalized card (with user photo inserted on the card) and no other user can use it should it be lost or stolen, therefore the credit is secure, so it will be stopped and now alternative card will be issued after reporting of losing the card and it can hold up to Dhs500 worth of credit. This card has an e-purse and the journey fare is calculated automatically based on the fare table. It enables the user to obtain secure online services such as balance recharging, inquiry about transactions, lodging complaints and receiving SMS & email notifications to verify or identify the required instructions.
In future a discounted package will be made available for kids, students, elderly and special needs, and the Card valid for five years.
Nol Gold Card is rechargeable and can hold up to Dhs500 worth of credit. This card has an e-purse and the journey fare is calculated automatically based on the fare table.
This card can be purchased from any ticket booth and some ticket vending machines at a price not exceeding Dhs20 - some of Dhs6 for the card and Dhs14 as credit in the card and can be used immediately upon purchase. This card enables the user the privilege of using the Gold Class in Dubai Metro, and in case this card is used on other modes of transport with no Gold Class cabins, the user will be charged the normal fare, and the Card is valid for 5 years.
Nol Red Tickets is a Dhs2 paper ticket rechargeable that can be recharged for one or two journeys and up to 10 journeys maximum, or a travel pass for one day up to 5 days. This ticket can only be used for one mode of transport at a time (e.g. on Dubai Metro only or on Dubai Bus only), and is considered ideal for occasional or casual users of public transport. This ticket doesn't have an e-purse account, and has to be pre-paid with the correct journey type. This ticket is valid for 90 days only and can be purchased from any ticket booth and ticket vending machines.
Posted by Rima Ali Al Mashni
