The Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has launched a major upgrade to its nol Pay app, strengthening its role as a core digital payment platform for the emirate’s public transport network.
The revamped app arrives at a time of rapid uptake, with digital nol card sales rising more than 460 per cent and downloads exceeding 1.5m year-on-year.
RTA said the upgrade introduces a redesigned interface, smoother performance and a suite of new features aimed at improving convenience, speed and overall usability for all segments of Dubai’s public transport riders.
RTA upgrades nol app in Dubai
The rollout marks the first phase of RTA’s initiative to upgrade the nol system using Account Based Ticketing (ABT) technologies.
According to RTA, the project supports the Dubai Government’s Services 360 policy, which aims to simplify procedures, eliminate unnecessary requirements and reduce transaction times.
It also reinforces the Government’s Zero Bureaucracy Programme by integrating services into a unified, seamless digital ecosystem.
The upgraded app introduces several new capabilities designed to give users greater flexibility and control, including:
- Managing family members’ nol cards, including submitting applications for children, linking or deactivating cards and topping up balances
- Scheduling automatic top-ups for family cards with pre-set intervals and user-defined amounts
- Receiving proactive notifications to top up low balances, renew expiring cards or extend travel passes before expiry
- Instant nol card top-ups and real-time balance enquiries
- Instant purchase of travel passes
- Additional in-app services, including mobile phone balance top-ups
RTA said the upgrades are aimed at improving ease of use, efficiency and overall functionality while aligning the app visually with the broader RTA digital ecosystem.
Digital adoption
The nol Pay app supports fully digitised nol cards on Samsung and Huawei devices, allowing users to make payments across Dubai’s public transport modes and retail outlets with a simple tap—without needing to open the app.
By the end of 2024, more than 33,000 digital cards had been sold, marking an increase of over 460 per cent compared to the previous year.
The app also recorded 1.5m downloads, up more than 150 per cent year-on-year.
RTA said these figures reflect strong and growing demand for smart, mobile-first transport payment options across Dubai’s population.
The upgraded nol Pay app forms part of RTA’s broader strategy to modernise mobility services using advanced digital technologies.
The authority said the improvements would support Dubai’s long-term goal of delivering faster, more integrated and more flexible public transport services, contributing to both customer satisfaction and the wider digital transformation of the emirate.
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