A Dubai Metro Ticket Can Now Live on Your Phone: QR Codes Work on the Metro, Buses and Tram From 9 October 2026
A Dubai Metro ticket can now be bought on your phone: on 9 October 2026, Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) announced that QR-code tickets bought in its nol Pay or S’hail apps can be used on the Metro, buses and tram, so riders no longer need a red paper ticket.
Khaleej Times and Emirates 24|7 reported the change on 9 October 2026, followed by The National on 10 October and a how-to guide from Gulf News updated on 12 October. According to The National, the RTA described the option as “especially convenient for occasional passengers and visitors”. Silver, Gold and personal nol cards remain valid: the QR ticket is an extra option, not a replacement.
The QR code changes how you buy, not how the system works. How fares are calculated, which ticket is cheapest for you and what can get you fined all follow the same rules as before. This guide covers the whole system: how to buy and use a QR ticket, the seven fare zones and nol card fares, transfer and Gold Class rules, fines, and which ticket suits which kind of rider.
Key Points
- Who should pay attention: visitors and business travellers who want to use the Dubai Metro on a short stay; newly arrived residents who do not yet have a nol card; and anyone weighing a move to Dubai who wants to understand commuting and transport costs.
- The QR ticket is a digital red ticket. According to Gulf News, a Regular single trip starts at AED 6 (including an AED 2 service fee per transaction) and a Regular day pass costs AED 22; unused tickets stay valid for 90 days. It suits occasional riders, while daily commuters usually pay less with a nol card.
- Dubai’s public transport is divided into seven fare zones, and the fare depends on how many zones you cross. Transfers between modes must happen within 30 minutes, and a single journey can last up to 180 minutes.
- The most common ways to get fined: not tapping in or out, using someone else’s ticket or card, and eating or drinking where it is not allowed.
How to Buy and Use a Dubai Metro QR Ticket in nol Pay or S’hail
Gulf News, in its guide updated on 12 October 2026, describes the purchase steps as follows:
- Download the nol Pay or S’hail app. Gulf News says nol Pay lets you sign in with UAE Pass or continue as a guest.
- Choose a ticket type: Single Trip or 1-Day Pass.
- Choose your journey, either by zone (one zone, two adjacent zones or all zones) or by entering your start and end points.
- Choose how many tickets and the class, Regular or Gold, then pay. The ticket is issued in the app straight away.
According to The National and Gulf News, this is how you get through:
- Metro: at the blue entry gate, hold the QR code face down over the reader and keep the phone steady until it is validated.
- Bus: at the red nol reader by the entrance, hold the phone with the screen facing up.
- Tram: validate at the designated nol reader.
- If you bought several tickets, tap “Next” in the app after one is used to show the next code.
Three more things to know. First, Gulf News says you need an internet connection to display the ticket, and the QR code refreshes automatically, so screenshots will not work; visitors without local data should sort out a connection before they travel. Second, tickets are personal and cannot be passed to a travel companion, so each person needs their own. Third, QR tickets work only on the Metro, tram and RTA buses; other things a nol card can pay for, such as parking, are not covered.
Dubai Metro QR Ticket Fares and Validity
All fares below come from the Gulf News guide of 12 October 2026 and include the AED 2 service fee per transaction. They match the RTA’s published red ticket fares plus its AED 2 ticket fee:
| Ticket | One zone | Two adjacent zones | All zones |
|---|---|---|---|
| Single trip, Regular | AED 6 | AED 8 | AED 10.50 |
| Single trip, Gold | AED 10 | AED 14 | AED 19 |
| Day pass, Regular (all zones) | AED 22 | AED 22 | AED 22 |
| Day pass, Gold (all zones) | AED 42 | AED 42 | AED 42 |
Unused tickets are valid for 90 days from purchase. A day pass expires at midnight on the day it is activated, not 24 hours after activation. You can buy up to 10 single trips or five day passes, the same limits the RTA sets for the red ticket. On refunds, Gulf News says unused tickets bought within the past 30 days, with a QR code that can be verified, can be refunded in cash at a station Ticket Office Machine, minus AED 2 per ticket.
How Dubai Metro Ticket Fares Work: Seven Zones and nol Card Prices
The Metro, tram and buses share one zone-based fare system. The RTA divides the city into seven zones, each with Metro, tram and bus stations, and charges by the number of zones a journey passes through.
All per-trip fares below come from the RTA’s nol Fares page (read on 16 October 2026; figures in AED):
| Journey | Silver card | Gold card | Personal (blue) card | Red ticket |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Within one zone | 3 | 6 | 3 | 4 |
| Two adjacent zones | 5 | 10 | 5 | 6 |
| More than two zones | 7.5 | 15 | 7.5 | 8.5 |
How the four options differ:
- Silver card: a stored-value card for Regular class that visitors can also buy. According to the RTA service page, an anonymous Silver or Gold card costs AED 25, of which AED 6 is the issuance fee and AED 19 is usable credit; it is valid for five years.
- Gold card: gives access to Gold Class on the Metro and tram at twice the Regular fare. The Gold surcharge applies only on the Metro and tram; on buses you pay the Regular fare.
- Personal card (nol Personal Card, blue card): registered in your name with your photo, holds a higher balance and offers concessions to eligible groups such as students and seniors. Best for long-term residents.
- Red ticket: a paper ticket for single use. The RTA service page says it is valid for 90 days and can be loaded with up to 10 trips or five day passes. The QR ticket is its digital version.
Frequent riders can also buy passes. On the RTA nol Fares page, a Silver 7-day pass costs AED 50 (one zone), 80 (two zones) or 110 (all zones), and a 30-day pass costs AED 140, 230 or 350. Anonymous cards can only buy the 7-day pass; the 30-, 90- and 365-day passes require a registered card. Children aged five and under travel free.
Dubai Metro, Bus and Tram Transfers and How Gold Class Is Charged
The transfer rules also come from the RTA nol Fares page:
- A journey can last up to 180 minutes from entry to exit, with up to three transfers.
- When changing modes, for example from the Metro to a bus, you must tap in on the bus within 30 minutes of leaving the Metro. Both legs are then charged as one journey based on the total zones crossed.
- Gold card holders transferring from the tram to the Metro are not charged the Gold surcharge again for a zone already paid for.
In practice, a Metro ride followed by a feeder bus home is usually charged once, as long as you board the bus within 30 minutes. Miss that window and it counts as two journeys.
Which Dubai Metro Ticket to Choose: QR Code, Red Ticket, Silver Card or Personal Card
The table below is Zagdim’s own guide, based on the RTA and media fares above; it is not an official classification, and the best value depends on how often and how far you travel:
| Your situation | Ticket that usually suits | Why |
|---|---|---|
| A few days in Dubai, one or two rides | QR single trip | No queue for a physical card; unused tickets stay valid for 90 days after purchase |
| Several stops across the city in one day | QR day pass | AED 22 for unlimited rides across all zones until midnight |
| A week or more, riding every day | Silver card (with a 7-day pass if useful) | One-zone trips cost AED 3, half the QR single fare |
| Working and living in Dubai | Registered Silver card or Personal card | Access to 30-, 90- and 365-day passes, and balance protection if the card is lost |
| Prefer a quieter carriage | Gold card or Gold QR ticket | Gold Class on the Metro and tram at about twice the Regular fare |
A simple arithmetic example: a return trip within one zone costs 2 × AED 6 = AED 12 with QR single tickets and 2 × AED 3 = AED 6 with a Silver card. The Silver card costs AED 25 up front, AED 19 of which is credit, so if you will ride more than a few times, the card usually works out cheaper; for one or two rides, the QR ticket is simpler. How the QR service fee is applied to multi-ticket purchases is shown in the app.
The nol system is also moving to account-based ticketing. According to a Dubai Media Office announcement of 5 July 2026, the upgrade has three phases: QR tickets through digital channels first, then a new generation of nol cards compatible with bank card technology, and finally fare payment by bank card and digital wallet. The whole project is due to finish by the end of the first quarter of 2027. In other words, at the time of writing QR tickets are live, but tapping a credit card or phone wallet at the gate belongs to the third phase and is not yet available.
Dubai Metro and Bus Fines: Not Tapping, Eating and Drinking, and Using Someone Else’s Ticket
All fines below come from the RTA’s 2022 brochure, “Dubai Metro and Tram: Fares, Fines and Etiquette” (amounts in AED); check the RTA’s latest notices for any changes since then:
| Offence | Fine |
|---|---|
| Travelling without paying the fare, or entering or leaving a paid area without tapping | 200 |
| Failing to present a nol card when asked | 200 |
| Using a card meant for someone else, or an expired or invalid card | 200 |
| Using a counterfeit card | 500 |
| Eating or drinking where it is prohibited | 100 |
| Sleeping where sleeping is prohibited | 300 |
The RTA brochure states that eating, drinking and chewing gum are prohibited on the train; other no-eating areas are marked in stations. The rule on using someone else’s ticket applies to QR tickets too: Gulf News says QR tickets cannot be transferred, and copied or shared tickets are not refunded or replaced.
Common Misconceptions About the Dubai Metro Ticket
Misconception 1: “With a QR code, I no longer need a nol card”
The QR ticket is a digital red ticket and costs more per trip than a Silver card. The National reports that Silver, Gold and personal cards remain valid. Daily commuters usually pay about half the QR single fare with a nol card and can buy passes.
Misconception 2: “I can take a screenshot and use it offline”
Gulf News says the QR code refreshes automatically, so screenshots do not work, and you need a data connection to display the ticket. Visitors should make sure their phone works in Dubai before heading to the gate.
Misconception 3: “A day pass lasts 24 hours”
A day pass expires at midnight on the day it is activated. Activate it at 11pm and it lapses an hour later. If you start travelling late in the evening, single tickets may be better value.
Misconception 4: “One QR ticket can cover my travel companion”
QR tickets are personal: one ticket per person. A family needs a ticket each, although children aged five and under ride free.
Misconception 5: “I can already tap my credit card or phone wallet at the gate”
According to the Dubai Media Office announcement of July 2026, paying fares directly by bank card or digital wallet is the third phase of the upgrade, due to be completed by the end of the first quarter of 2027. Until then, a credit card is used to buy QR tickets in the app or to top up at machines; you still enter with a QR ticket or nol card.
Three Typical Situations: How Different Riders Buy a Dubai Metro Ticket
Case 1: A visitor in Dubai for a three-day business trip
- Background: staying at a hotel in the city, with two or three meetings a day and occasional Metro rides.
- What to do: on the busiest day, buy a QR day pass (AED 22 Regular); on other days, buy single tickets as needed. Check before travelling that your phone has local data or roaming.
- Watch out for: the day pass expires at midnight; tickets cannot be shared with colleagues, so each person buys their own.
Case 2: A new resident who has just started work and is still waiting for residency paperwork
- Background: commuting daily by Metro and feeder bus, with no Emirates ID yet.
- What to do: buy an anonymous Silver card at a station (AED 25, including AED 19 credit) and tap every day. When changing from the Metro to a bus, board within 30 minutes of leaving the station so both legs count as one journey. Once the card is registered, passes of 30 days or longer become available.
- Watch out for: anonymous cards can only buy the 7-day pass, and only a registered card protects the balance if the card is lost.
Case 3: Someone weighing a move to Dubai and comparing areas
- Background: planning to rent and wondering how much more transport would cost from a cheaper area further from work.
- What to do: find the fare zones of the home and the office, estimate the daily return fare from the RTA table, then compare a 30-day pass (Silver: AED 140 for one zone, AED 350 for all zones) with paying per trip.
- Watch out for: zone fares are only part of the cost of commuting; how far the home is from a Metro station, and whether a feeder bus runs, often matters more for daily travel time.
Dubai Metro Ticket, QR Code and nol Card FAQ
How do I buy a Dubai Metro ticket with a QR code on my phone?
In the nol Pay or S’hail app, choose a single trip or day pass, pick your journey by zone or by start and end point, select Regular or Gold, and pay; the ticket appears in the app immediately. On the Metro, hold the QR code face down over the blue gate reader; on buses, hold the screen face up over the red nol reader. Gulf News says you need a data connection to display it.
How much does a Dubai Metro ticket cost, and is a QR code or a nol card cheaper?
According to the RTA, a Silver card costs AED 3 within one zone, AED 5 across two adjacent zones and AED 7.5 for more than two zones; the red ticket costs AED 4, 6 and 8.5. Gulf News reports QR single fares, including the service fee, of AED 6, 8 and 10.50. If you ride often, a Silver card is usually cheaper.
How long is a Dubai QR ticket valid?
According to Gulf News and The National, unused tickets are valid for 90 days from purchase. A day pass expires at midnight on the day it is activated rather than after 24 hours. You can buy up to 10 single trips or five day passes.
Can I screenshot my Dubai Metro ticket and send it to a friend?
No. Gulf News says the QR code refreshes automatically, so screenshots do not work, and tickets are personal and non-transferable; copied or shared tickets are not refunded or replaced. The RTA’s 2022 brochure lists a fine of AED 200 for using a card meant for someone else.
Do I pay again when I change from the Metro to a bus in Dubai?
Under RTA rules, if you tap in on the bus within 30 minutes of leaving the Metro, both legs are charged as one journey based on the total zones crossed. A journey can last up to 180 minutes with up to three transfers. Outside those limits, each leg is charged separately.
Can I tap a credit card to ride the Dubai Metro?
Not at the time of writing. According to the Dubai Media Office announcement of 5 July 2026, paying fares directly by bank card or digital wallet is the third phase of the nol upgrade, with the whole project due to finish by the end of the first quarter of 2027. For now, a credit card can be used to buy QR tickets in the app.
Do children need a ticket on the Dubai Metro?
According to the RTA, children aged five and under travel free. The RTA’s 2022 brochure also says children shorter than 90 cm ride the Metro and tram free. Children over five need their own ticket or card.
Planning to Live in Dubai? Ask Zagdim
Before moving to Dubai, deciding which area to live in, how long the commute will take and what transport and living costs add up to often matters more than buying a ticket. Ask Zagdim with the details of your situation and we will help you work out what to clarify next.
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Important Disclaimer
This article is general information and does not constitute legal, financial or other professional advice. Card fares, zones and transfer rules are taken from the RTA website as read on 16 October 2026. QR ticket fares, service fees, the data-connection requirement and refund rules follow reporting by Gulf News, The National and other media in October 2026; a full official RTA description of the QR ticket was not available at the time of writing. Fines are taken from the RTA’s 2022 brochure. Fares and rules can change, so check the RTA website and the nol Pay and S’hail apps for the latest information.
Current as of 16 October 2026; the latest official announcements from Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) take precedence.
References
Roads & Transport Authority – nol Fares / Roads & Transport Authority – nol Home / Roads & Transport Authority – Purchase Anonymous nol Card / nol Red Ticket / Roads & Transport Authority – Dubai Metro and Tram: Fares, Fines and Etiquette (2022) / Dubai Media Office – RTA Completes 72% of nol Digital Payment System Upgrade to Account-Based Ticketing / Gulf News – Dubai Metro, bus and tram QR tickets: How to buy, use and how much they cost / The National – Dubai introduces digital Nol QR tickets for metro, buses and trams / Khaleej Times – Travel without Nol card: Commuters can now use QR codes on Dubai Metro, buses, trams / Emirates 24|7 – Dubai RTA’s new QR ticket: How to ride the Metro, bus or tram using a QR code
