Official RTA Dubai Information Resource

Dubai NOL Card Balance Check

Enter your 10-digit Tag ID to view your remaining balance instantly. Fast, free, and redirected securely to the official RTA portal.

Instant Balance Lookup

Enter the 10-digit Tag ID printed on the back of your card

NOL Tag ID (10 digits)

Check Balance

Your card details are never stored · Redirects to official RTA portal

or use

NOL Pay App Metro Machine

Trusted by Dubai Commuters Daily

Residents, tourists, and students rely on this resource for accurate RTA information

SSL Encrypted

No Data Stored

Always Available

50K+

Monthly Visitors

1M+

Lookups Served

99.9%

Uptime

Zero

Data Breaches

How to Check Your Balance in 3 Steps

The whole process takes under 30 seconds using the tool above.

Find Your Tag ID

Locate the 10-digit Tag ID on the back of your NOL card, below the barcode or chip. This is your unique identifier in the RTA system.

Enter & Submit

Type the Tag ID in the field above and tap "Check Balance." The tool connects securely to the official RTA portal and processes your request instantly.

View Your Balance

The RTA page shows your current balance, pending credit, and card expiry date. You can also view your last 10 transactions and top up directly.

7 Ways to Check Your Balance in Dubai

RTA provides multiple methods — online and offline — so you can check from anywhere.

RTA Official Website

Visit rta.ae, navigate to "Check nol Balance," enter your Tag ID, and get live balance and expiry details instantly.

Instant · 24/7

nol Pay App (NFC)

Open the nol Pay app, enable NFC on your phone, and tap your card to the back of the device for an immediate balance reading.

Fastest · No Delay

RTA Dubai App

Go to Public Transportation → Nol Card in the RTA Dubai app. Enter your Tag ID or scan via NFC to check instantly.

iOS & Android

SMS to 511

Send "BAL" to 511 from any UAE mobile after a one-time registration. Receive your balance by reply SMS within seconds — no internet needed.

Works Offline

Ticket Vending Machines

Tap your card on any TVM at Dubai Metro or bus stations. The machine shows your balance and offers an instant top-up option.

Offline · Instant

Ticket Office Counters

Hand your card to RTA staff at any metro or bus station counter. They scan it and provide your full balance and transaction history.

Staff Assisted

RTA Parking Meters

Insert your card into any RTA parking meter. The meter displays your remaining balance and warns you if expiry is within 30 days.

Available Citywide

NOL Card Types & Balance Limits

All four card types support online balance lookup via the same 10-digit Tag ID.

*AED 1,000 limit for anonymous cards · AED 5,000 for cards registered with Emirates ID
Card Type	Card Cost	Max Balance	Validity	Best For
Silver	AED 25 (incl. AED 19 credit)	AED 1,000 / AED 5,000*	5 Years	Daily commuters
Gold	AED 25 (incl. AED 19 credit)	AED 1,000 / AED 5,000*	5 Years	Gold Class cabin access
Blue	AED 70 (incl. AED 20 credit)	AED 5,000	5 Years	Students, seniors, people of determination (50% discount)
Red Ticket	AED 2	AED 100	90 Days	Tourists & occasional travelers

Minimum Balance Required to Travel

Maintain sufficient balance before boarding to avoid fines.

Single Trip (Silver)

AED 7.50

Minimum for any single journey — Metro, Bus, Tram, or Water Bus

Round Trip (Silver)

AED 15.00

Recommended balance for a return journey on the Silver card

Round Trip (Gold)

AED 30.00

Recommended balance for a return journey in the Gold Class cabin

Insufficient Balance Fine

AED 200

Penalty for traveling without a valid card or with insufficient balance

Pending Credit: Top-ups via the RTA website or app may show as "pending" for 45 minutes to 4 hours. Tap your card at any metro gate or parking meter to activate the credit before traveling.

What Is a NOL Card?

The NOL card (Arabic: نول, meaning "fares") is an electronic prepaid contactless smartcard issued by Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA). Launched in August 2009 alongside the Dubai Metro, it was developed with Hong Kong's Octopus Cards Limited and is now the mandatory payment method for all public transport in Dubai.

The card processes over 1.5 million daily transactions across Dubai's integrated transport network. Dubai's public transport served 747.1 million riders in 2024, with over 2.18 million daily riders in the first half of 2025. A NOL card is required to travel on:

Dubai Metro — Red Line (35 stations) and Green Line (20 stations) across 7 fare zones
Dubai Tram — 11 stations along Jumeirah Beach Residence
Public Buses — All RTA routes including intercity and feeder services
Water Bus, Abra & Ferry — Marine transport across Dubai Creek and beyond
Dubai Taxis — RTA-operated and franchise taxi services
RTA Parking Meters — All RTA-operated parking zones across Dubai
2,000+ Retail Outlets — Shops, supermarkets, and restaurants accepting NOL payments

Cash is not accepted on Dubai's metro or buses. Every passenger — resident, tourist, or student — needs a valid NOL card with sufficient balance before boarding.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about managing and checking your NOL card in Dubai.

What is the NOL Tag ID and where do I find it?

The NOL Tag ID is a unique 10-digit number printed on the back of every NOL card, below the barcode or chip area. It is your card's unique identifier in the RTA system and is required for all online balance lookups.

How do I top up my NOL card in Dubai?

You can top up through eight channels: nol Pay app (instant, min. AED 5), RTA website (min. AED 20, 45 min–4 hr activation), ticket vending machines (min. AED 20), ticket offices (min. AED 50), S'hail app, ZOOM/ENOC stores, and solar machines at bus stops. The nol Pay app is the fastest with no activation delay.

What are the Dubai Metro timings in 2026?

Dubai Metro runs Saturday to Thursday, 5:00 AM to midnight, and Fridays from 10:00 AM to 1:00 AM. During Ramadan and major events, timings are extended. Check the RTA website or app for real-time updates.

How do I check my balance without internet?

Three offline options: (1) SMS — send "BAL" to 511 from any UAE mobile after one-time registration; (2) Ticket Vending Machine — tap your card at any metro or bus station TVM; (3) Parking Meter — insert your card into any RTA parking meter.

What is the Gold NOL card price?

The Gold NOL card costs AED 25, including AED 19 pre-loaded credit. It grants access to the Gold Class cabin on Dubai Metro and tram at double the standard fare. A 1-zone Gold journey costs AED 6. An all-zones monthly pass for Gold holders is AED 700.

What happens if my balance is too low to travel?

If your balance falls below AED 7.50, you cannot pass metro fare gates or board buses. Traveling without sufficient balance may result in an AED 200 fine. Always maintain at least AED 15 for a return journey on the Silver card.

Can I view my NOL card transaction history?

Yes. Log in to the RTA website with UAE Pass → NOL Services → Check NOL Balance and History to view up to 12 months of transactions, including fares, top-ups, retail, and parking. Export as CSV is available. Via SMS, send "Nol HISTORY" to 5110 for your last 10 transactions.

My balance is not updating after a top-up — what should I do?

Online top-ups require physical card activation. Tap your card at a metro gate within 45 minutes to 4 hours of completing payment. If the balance still does not reflect after 24 hours, contact RTA on 800 90 90.