Dubai Metro Fares and NOL Card: Prices, Zones and Passes (2026)
A Dubai Metro trip costs AED 3 to AED 7.50 on a Silver NOL card, depending on how many fare zones you cross, and Gold costs double. This page brings every fare together in one place: the price by card and zone, how zones work, the four NOL card types, QR tickets, day passes and travel passes, and the minimum balance you need at the gate.
Use the Fare Calculator for an exact fare for your trip, and the Dubai Metro Map to see the two lines and all 53 distinct stations: 35 on the Red Line and 20 on the Green Line, with Union and BurJuman shared by both lines. Fares here were checked 2026-11-10; verify on rta.ae before you travel.
Metro fares by card type and zone
Silver fares are AED 3, AED 5 and AED 7.50; Gold fares are AED 6, AED 10 and AED 15; Red Ticket Regular fares are AED 4, AED 6 and AED 8.50; and Blue concession fares are AED 1.50, AED 2.50 and AED 3.75, for 1 zone, 2 adjacent zones, and more than 2 zones. Your fare depends on how many zones you cross, not on distance or stops.
| Card type | 1 zone | 2 adjacent zones | More than 2 zones |
|---|---|---|---|
| Silver (standard) | AED 3 | AED 5 | AED 7.50 |
| Gold (Gold Class) | AED 6 | AED 10 | AED 15 |
| Blue concession (50 percent) | AED 1.50 | AED 2.50 | AED 3.75 |
| Red Ticket Regular | AED 4 | AED 6 | AED 8.50 |
| Red Ticket Gold | AED 8 | AED 12 | AED 17 |
Gold Class costs double Silver on Metro and Tram only. On buses, a Gold card pays the Silver fare. Blue concession fares apply to approved students, seniors aged 60 and over, and Social Affairs beneficiaries on a Personal Blue card. Red Ticket figures were read directly on the RTA Nol Fares page; Silver, Gold and Blue concession fares are verified by uniform agreement across sources citing RTA. Fares checked 2026-11-10, verify on rta.ae.
How Dubai Metro fare zones work
Dubai has 7 fare zones, Metro stations sit in zones 1, 2, 5 and 6, and your fare depends on how many zones you cross, not on distance or stops. The creek is the boundary between Zone 5 on the Deira side and Zone 6 on the Bur Dubai side, so a trip from Union (Zone 5) to BurJuman (Zone 6) crosses a zone even though it is one stop.
- 7 zones in total. Each zone covers Metro, Tram and public bus stops inside it.
- Metro zones are 1, 2, 5 and 6. Zones 3, 4 and 7 have no Metro station fully inside them; they are served by buses.
- Zone boundaries matter. On the Red Line, Zone 6 meets Zone 2 between Business Bay and Garmin, and Zone 2 meets Zone 1 between Energy and Life Pharmacy.
- Journey limits. A maximum journey is 180 minutes with a maximum of 3 transfers. Transfers between Metro and bus within 30 minutes count as a single journey charged on total zones crossed.
Two stations sit on zone boundaries, so no single zone is verified for them. Danube sits on the Zone 1 and Zone 2 boundary, and Jumeirah Golf Estates sits where Zones 1, 2 and 3 meet. For trips at these stations, the RTA app or gate display is authoritative. The Dubai Tram uses the same zone system, and all 11 Tram stops are in Zone 2, so a Tram only trip is a 1 zone trip.
NOL card types compared: Silver, Gold, Blue and Red Ticket
Silver and Gold cost AED 25 including AED 19 credit, Blue costs AED 70 including AED 20 credit, and a Red Ticket costs AED 2. Those card prices are corroborated rather than directly read on RTA. The table compares the four options; the linked guides give the full detail.
| Card | Price (including credit) | Best for | Per trip fare |
|---|---|---|---|
| Silver | AED 25 (AED 19 credit) | Regular pay as you go travel | AED 3 / 5 / 7.50 |
| Gold | AED 25 (AED 19 credit) | Gold Class cabins on Metro and Tram | AED 6 / 10 / 15 |
| Blue (Personal) | AED 70 (AED 20 credit) | Registered personal card, with concessions if you qualify | AED 3 / 5 / 7.50 standard; AED 1.50 / 2.50 / 3.75 concession |
| Red Ticket | AED 2 | Short visits and occasional trips | AED 4 / 6 / 8.50 Regular; AED 8 / 12 / 17 Gold |
- Silver: the standard card for regular travel. See Silver NOL Card: Your Guide to Affordable and Smart Travel in Dubai.
- Gold: double fares for Gold Class cabins on Metro and Tram, at the same card price as Silver. See Gold NOL Card: Your Ultimate Guide to Luxurious Travel in Dubai.
- Blue: a registered personal card for longer passes and concession fares if you qualify. See Blue NOL Card: Complete Guide for 2026.
- Red Ticket: a paper ticket holding up to 10 single trips, valid 90 days, suited to a short visit. See Dubai Nol Card Types & Benefits: The Ultimate Guide for the full comparison.
Card prices above are corroborated by guides citing RTA, not directly read on the RTA fares page. Verify on rta.ae before you buy.
QR tickets: the phone ticket launched 9 October 2026
RTA launched QR tickets on 9 October 2026, sold through the nol Pay and S’hail apps for Metro, Tram and public buses as a digital Red Ticket. Physical NOL cards remain valid. Every QR purchase includes an AED 2 service fee, already included below.
| QR ticket | Regular | Gold |
|---|---|---|
| Single trip, 1 zone | AED 6 | AED 10 |
| Single trip, 2 adjacent zones | AED 8 | AED 14 |
| Single trip, all zones | AED 10.50 | AED 19 |
| One day pass (all zones) | AED 22 | AED 42 |
- Single trip prices are Red Ticket fares plus AED 2: Regular AED 4, 6 and 8.50 plus 2; Gold AED 8, 12 and 17 plus 2.
- Unused QR tickets are valid 90 days. Buy up to 10 single trip tickets or 5 one day passes per transaction.
- A day pass ends at midnight on the day it is first used. It is valid until the end of that day’s operating hours, not for 24 hours from activation.
- QR tickets work only on Metro, Tram and RTA buses, not parking, taxis, ferries or Etihad Rail. The code refreshes in the app and needs internet; screenshots do not work.
QR fares follow the RTA schedule as reported 9 October 2026, with agreeing reports from Gulf News and The National. Checked 2026-11-10, verify on rta.ae.
Day pass and travel passes
A 1 day Travel Pass on a Red Ticket costs AED 20 Regular and AED 40 Gold. Silver 7, 30, 90 and 365 day passes start at AED 50, AED 140, AED 330 and AED 1060 for 1 zone. Gold passes cost double Silver; Student and Senior Emirati passes cost half. Prices are in AED, as 1 zone / 2 zones / all zones.
| Pass | Silver | Gold | Student / Senior Emirati |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 days | 50 / 80 / 110 | 100 / 160 / 220 | 25 / 40 / 55 |
| 30 days | 140 / 230 / 350 | 280 / 460 / 700 | 70 / 115 / 175 |
| 90 days | 330 / 550 / 830 | 660 / 1100 / 1660 | 165 / 275 / 415 |
| 365 days | 1060 / 1770 / 2670 | 2120 / 3540 / 5340 | 530 / 885 / 1335 |
- 1 day Travel Pass on a Red Ticket: AED 20 Regular and AED 40 Gold, valid until midnight on the travel date. This pass is corroborated by guides citing RTA; the RTA fares page pass table starts at 7 days.
- Anonymous Silver and Gold cards can only apply for the 7 day pass. Registered Silver and Gold cards can apply for 7, 30, 90 and 365 day passes.
- Compare before you buy. A pass suits a rider who travels most days across the same zones; an occasional rider usually pays less per trip with pay as you go. Price your trips with the Fare Calculator first.
Pass prices were read directly on the RTA Nol Fares page. Checked 2026-11-10, verify on rta.ae.
Minimum balance and top-up
Minimum balance: AED 7.50 on a Silver, Gold or Travel card, and AED 3.50 on a Blue card. Below that, the Metro gates will not open. The same minimum applies when activating a pending balance at Metro gates.
Top up at Metro station machines, through the RTA app and website, or at retail top-up points, and check your balance before you travel using the guides linked in the next section. These figures were read directly on the RTA top-up service page. Checked 2026-11-10, verify on rta.ae.
How to check your NOL card balance
Check your balance online, in the RTA app, or at a Metro station machine. The two guides below show each method step by step, so check before you leave.
- NOL Card Balance Check Online: the online balance check, with the methods to check a card without visiting a station.
- How to Check NOL Card Balance: History (2026 Guide): how to check a balance and view trip and top-up history.
Which NOL card should you choose?
Choose Silver for regular pay as you go travel, Gold for Gold Class cabins, Blue for a registered personal card with concessions if you qualify, and a Red Ticket or QR ticket for a short visit.
- Regular commuter: Silver, at AED 3, AED 5 or AED 7.50 per trip. Add a pass on a registered card if you ride most days. See Silver NOL Card: Your Guide to Affordable and Smart Travel in Dubai.
- Gold Class rider: Gold, at double Silver on Metro and Tram, for the Gold Class cabin. See Gold NOL Card: Your Ultimate Guide to Luxurious Travel in Dubai.
- Registered resident or concession holder: Blue, the registered personal card, with concession fares of AED 1.50, AED 2.50 or AED 3.75 for approved students, seniors aged 60 and over, and Social Affairs beneficiaries. See Blue NOL Card: Complete Guide for 2026.
- Short visit tourist: a Red Ticket at AED 2, or a QR ticket from AED 6 Regular, with a QR day pass at AED 22 Regular or AED 42 Gold.
Still unsure? Price your usual trips with the Fare Calculator and compare with the pass table above.
NOL card guides on this site
These guides cover each card, each balance check, and Metro travel in general.
- NOL Card Balance Check Online: how to check a NOL balance online, away from a station.
- Dubai Nol Card Types & Benefits: The Ultimate Guide: the full comparison of NOL card types and benefits, for choosing a first card.
- How to Check NOL Card Balance: History (2026 Guide): how to check a balance and view trip and top-up history.
- Gold NOL Card: Your Ultimate Guide to Luxurious Travel in Dubai: the Gold card in full, including Gold Class travel.
- Silver NOL Card: Your Guide to Affordable and Smart Travel in Dubai: the Silver card in full, the standard pay as you go card.
- Blue NOL Card: Complete Guide for 2026: the Blue personal card in full, including registration and concession fares.
- Your Guide to Metro Travel in the UAE: Tips, Cost, Documents: the general Metro travel guide, with tips, costs, and documents for a first trip.
- Dubai Metro Timings: Your Ultimate Guide: first and last train times and service hours.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a Dubai Metro ticket?
A Dubai Metro ticket costs AED 3, AED 5 or AED 7.50 on Silver for 1 zone, 2 zones, or more than 2 zones, and Gold costs AED 6, AED 10 or AED 15. A Red Ticket Regular costs AED 4, AED 6 or AED 8.50, and a Red Ticket Gold costs AED 8, AED 12 or AED 17. Your fare depends on how many zones you cross, so check the fare table above for your exact trip.
How do Dubai Metro fare zones work?
Dubai has 7 fare zones, Metro stations sit in zones 1, 2, 5 and 6, and you pay for how many zones you cross. Union is in Zone 5 and BurJuman is in Zone 6, so that one stop trip crosses a zone. Danube sits on the boundary between Zone 1 and Zone 2, and Jumeirah Golf Estates sits where Zones 1, 2 and 3 meet, so no single zone is verified for those two stations.
Which NOL card is cheapest for regular travel?
Silver is the cheapest standard card for regular travel at AED 3, AED 5 or AED 7.50 per trip. Blue concession fares are AED 1.50, AED 2.50 or AED 3.75 for approved students, seniors aged 60 and over, and Social Affairs beneficiaries, with approval needed on a Personal Blue card. Regular riders should also compare a pass with pay as you go.
Can I pay for the Metro with a QR code on my phone?
Yes, RTA launched QR tickets on 9 October 2026 through the nol Pay and S’hail apps. Single trips cost AED 6, AED 8 or AED 10.50 Regular and AED 10, AED 14 or AED 19 Gold, and a one day pass costs AED 22 Regular or AED 42 Gold. The QR code refreshes in the app and needs internet, so screenshots do not work.
What is the minimum NOL card balance to enter the Metro?
You need at least AED 7.50 on a Silver, Gold or Travel card and AED 3.50 on a Blue card, or the Metro gates will not open. Check your balance online, in the RTA app, or at a Metro station machine using the guides linked above.
Do children travel free on the Dubai Metro?
Children aged 5 and under travel free on Dubai Metro, Tram and Bus and do not need a NOL card. Children aged 6 and over need a ticket or a NOL card like any other rider.
What time does the Dubai Metro run?
First trains leave at 5:00 am Monday to Saturday and 8:00 am on Sunday, and service ends at midnight, except Friday when it ends at 1:00 am the next day. Last trains leave their terminus earlier, so check per station times in Dubai Metro Timings: Your Ultimate Guide before a late trip.
Fares, zones and times on this page were checked 2026-11-10. Verify on rta.ae before you travel.
