Commuters in Dubai will soon be able to use their Nol card for far more than travel. The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has announced that a new Nol-Jaywan card will be rolled out in phases, starting with a pilot in November 2026, bringing together the existing Nol transport system and Jaywan, the UAE's national card payment scheme.

The first phase covers RTA public transport services, taxis and public parking. Later phases will extend the card as part of a wider upgrade of Dubai's Nol system based on account-based ticketing technology, which is designed to connect different transport services and offer a more unified payment experience.

Five key features are planned. First, the card combines transport payments with wider digital payment services, so holders can pay for journeys and everyday purchases with a single card. Second, cards can be activated and managed digitally through smartphones running Android and iOS. Third, the card is designed to work with public and private transport services across the UAE, including online booking platforms, extending its use beyond Dubai.

Fourth, cardholders will have access to more than 120 promotional offers and exclusive discounts. Fifth, the rollout will begin with the November pilot and continue in successive phases.

The RTA has not yet specified when the cards will be available to the general public, what they will cost, or whether existing Nol cards will need to be replaced.

(Source: Khaleej Times)