Dubai's Nol student card gains payment functions from December

Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) will upgrade the Nol student card in December 2026 to support online payments and purchases at outlets across the GCC, extending the card far beyond its original role as a transport pass. An RTA spokesperson confirmed to Khaleej Times that the upgraded card will carry the same features as a standard Nol card.

The change affects a substantial user base. The RTA reports 49,500 active student cards, with 43,800 printed since 2024 alone — a measure of how quickly the scheme has grown since the RTA expanded its card production and distribution over the past two years.

What does the December upgrade change?

Once the upgrade takes effect, students will be able to top up their cards instantly through online channels, manage their profile, and renew the card online without visiting a service point. Parents will also gain the ability to manage their child's account or card directly.

For students, the practical outcome is simpler: the card stops being limited to transport and campus canteens. It becomes a broader payment tool, usable both online and at physical outlets across the region.

The card's core benefit remains unchanged. The Nol Student Card continues to offer a 50 per cent discount on public transport in Dubai, the feature that has made it a standard item for school and university students across the emirate since its introduction.

How big is the student card base?

The RTA launched the Nol Student Card in 2009, shortly after the opening of Dubai Metro. According to authority figures, 43,800 cards have been printed since 2024, and 49,500 are currently active.

Usage is concentrated at specific stations. The RTA's data identifies the five busiest metro stations for student card users:

• Burjuman Metro Station
• Stadium Metro Station
• Oud Metha Metro Station
• Dubai Internet City Metro Station
• City Centre Deira Metro Station

Beyond the transport discount, students can access retail savings by registering for the Nol Plus loyalty programme through the RTA's digital channels.

Who qualifies and what does it cost?

Any school or university student in the UAE under the age of 23 can apply through the RTA website or the Nol Pay app. Applicants must submit their Emirates ID, a photograph, and an official, stamped Student Confirmation Letter from their school, college or university. The card costs Dh70 and is valid for five years — roughly Dh14 per year of use.

The RTA has also broadened the card's reach through the Nol ISIC variant, launched in partnership with the International Student Identity Card Association. Announced in 2024, the ISIC card doubles as internationally accepted student identification and unlocks privileges and discounts in more than 130 countries. At the time of the announcement, the RTA said the package would offer discounts of up to 70 per cent at local and international brands, on top of the existing 50 per cent public transport fare reduction.

Is this part of a wider overhaul?

The December student card upgrade sits within a broader modernisation of the Nol system. The RTA is transitioning to account-based ticketing, which will let commuters link their Nol cards to digital accounts, use QR code ticketing, and pay fares directly with bank cards and digital wallets.

A new generation of Nol-Jaywan cards is also in the works, combining the Nol transport system with the UAE's national payment scheme. A pilot begins in November 2026 — one month before the student card upgrade — and those cards will carry more than 120 promotional offers and exclusive discounts.

For Dubai's student commuters, the sequence is now fixed: the Nol-Jaywan pilot arrives in November, and in December the 49,500 active student cards gain full payment functionality across the GCC.