Dubai Metro, tram and buses now accept QR tickets bought in apps

Passengers on the Dubai Metro, tram and public buses can now pay with a QR code shown on their phone. The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) announced the option on 9 October 2026 as a digital replacement for the paper red nol ticket used by occasional riders. Khaleej Times reported the launch.

Tickets are sold in two apps, nol Pay and S'hail. Riders pick a single trip or a one-day pass, choose zones and a class (Regular or Gold), then pay. The code appears in the app straight away. Gulf News says every purchase carries a Dh2 service fee, already included in the fares below.

A Regular single trip costs between Dh6 and Dh10.50 depending on zones. Gold single trips run from Dh10 to Dh19. A one-day pass is Dh22 in Regular and Dh42 in Gold. An unused ticket stays valid for 90 days after purchase, and a day pass expires at midnight on the day it is first used.

The code must be displayed live in the app, so a screenshot will not open the gate. Metro riders scan it at the blue gates, bus passengers at the red nol reader and tram users at a dedicated reader. Tickets are personal and cannot be passed on. Unused ones can be refunded in cash at ticket machines within 30 days, minus a Dh2 fee.

Silver, Gold and personal nol cards still work. The National quoted the RTA describing the QR ticket as "especially convenient for occasional passengers and visitors."

For a short stay, this removes the trip to a ticket machine before the first ride. Visitors will need the app, mobile data and a charged phone, since the code cannot be shown offline.