The RTA Roads and Transport Authority is the government body that issues, manages, and maintains the NOL card system in Dubai. Every balance check method available to you is an officially supported RTA service, whether it is the nol.ae website, the NOL Pay app, a metro station machine, or the entry gate. This guide covers every RTA-approved way to check your NOL card balance, explains why your balance might sometimes show an unexpected figure, and covers what to do when you need direct help from RTA customer support.
What Is the RTA NOL Card?
The RTA NOL card is Dubai’s official smart transit card. It is the only accepted payment method across all RTA-operated public transport Dubai Metro, RTA buses, Dubai Tram, water buses, and paid public parking. The card is a stored-value contactless smart card, meaning it holds a cash balance that gets deducted each time you tap on a transport reader.
The RTA issues the NOL card in several types to suit different users. The Silver card is the standard option for residents and regular commuters. The Gold card provides access to the Gold Class cabin on the metro. The Blue card is aimed at tourists and short-stay visitors and comes pre-loaded. The Red card is a single-trip or short-use paper card. The Personal NOL card is a registered version of the Silver or Gold card that is linked to your Emirates ID and nol.ae account, giving you full online management access.
All card types draw from the same stored balance system and all work with the same balance check methods. The difference is in what information you can access registered Personal cards give you full transaction history and account management, while unregistered cards give you current balance only.
For a full breakdown of card types and how the RTA system works overall, see the
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Official RTA Methods to Check NOL Card Balance
Method 1: nol.ae The Official RTA Portal
The nol.ae website is the primary online platform operated by RTA for all NOL card services. Checking your balance here gives you the most complete view current balance, full transaction history, card expiry date, and any pending top-up amounts.
Go to
in any browser. Click Sign In at the top right corner. Enter your registered email address and password. After logging in, click My Cards in the left navigation menu. Your current RTA NOL card balance appears on the card dashboard alongside the card number and expiry date. To see your full travel history and individual fare deductions, click Statement.
This method works only for registered Personal NOL cards. If your card has never been linked to an nol.ae account, you will not have login credentials to access the dashboard. In that case, use the guest balance check on the nol.ae homepage enter your 16-digit card number without logging in, and your current balance and last transaction display immediately.
The guest method works for all card types Silver, Gold, and Blue whether registered or not.
Method 2: NOL Pay App
The NOL Pay app is the official RTA mobile app for NOL card management. It is available free on both Android and iOS and is the most practical tool for daily commuters who want their balance visible at all times.
Download the app from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store by searching NOL Pay RTA. Open the app and create an account using your Emirates ID and phone number. Once your account is set up, tap Link Card and enter your 16-digit NOL card number. From that point, your RTA NOL card balance appears on the home screen every time you open the app. You can also tap the card tile to view your full statement, past journeys, expiry date, and top-up history.
The NOL Pay app also has an NFC reading feature for Android phones. If your Android device has NFC, enable it through Settings, then Connections, then NFC. Open the NOL Pay app and tap Read Card Balance. Hold your physical NOL card flat against the back of your phone. The balance reads directly from the card chip within two seconds. This NFC method works for all NOL card types, registered or unregistered, with no login needed.
iPhone users may find NFC compatibility inconsistent across models. Android phones give the most reliable NFC experience with the NOL Pay app.
Method 3: Metro Station Ticket Vending Machine
Every Dubai Metro station has Ticket Vending Machines on the concourse level. These are official RTA machines that can read any NOL card and display the current balance, expiry date, and last transaction instantly. No internet, no login, and no smartphone required.
Walk to any metro station and find the blue TVM. On the main menu, tap Card Services or Check Balance. Place your NOL card flat on the card reader pad. Your current RTA NOL card balance and card details display within seconds.
This is the most universally accessible method. It works for every card type including unregistered ones, it is available at all 53 metro stations across the city, and it is entirely free to use. For visitors, tourists, or anyone who does not want to use an app or website, the TVM is the go-to option.
Method 4: Metro Entry Gate
When you tap your NOL card on the yellow reader at any metro entry gate, the gate screen briefly shows your current balance for two to three seconds before the barrier opens. This is a quick daily check built into the boarding process rather than a separate balance check feature.
Most regular metro users develop the habit of glancing at the gate screen each time they board. If the number is getting low, they know to top up before the next journey. The balance shown is your balance before the current journey fare is deducted, so the actual remaining amount after the trip will be slightly lower.
If the gate declines your tap instead of opening, your balance has dropped below AED 7.50, which is the minimum required to board. Use the nearby TVM to top up before trying again.
Method 5: S’hail App
S’hail is RTA’s official journey planning app, primarily used for real-time metro and bus schedules and multi-modal trip planning. If your NOL card is linked to the same RTA account used on S’hail, the app also shows your card balance alongside your transit planning information.
Open the S’hail app and navigate to your account or profile section. If your card is linked, you will see the NOL card tile with your current balance. S’hail is free on Android and iOS and is most useful for commuters who already use it for route planning and want to avoid switching between apps.
RTA Customer Care for Balance Enquiries
If you have tried the self-service methods and your balance is showing something unexpected, or if you need to resolve a card-related issue directly, RTA provides several customer support channels.
The main RTA customer service number is 800-9090, which is toll-free within the UAE. You can call this number for NOL card balance enquiries, disputed transactions, top-up issues, expired card balance transfers, and general card management questions. The line is available during RTA business hours.
Live chat is also available directly on the rta.ae website. The chat option appears on most pages of the official RTA portal and is handled by RTA customer service agents during operating hours.
For in-person support, RTA Customer Happiness Centres are located across Dubai including Al Barsha, Deira, Oud Metha, Al Twar, and Dubai Internet City. Staff at these centres can check your full card balance, print transaction history, process expired card balance transfers, and handle registration or renewal for any NOL card type.
You can also reach RTA through WhatsApp support, which is accessible via the rta.ae website.
Why Your RTA NOL Card Balance Might Show Incorrectly
There are a few common situations where the balance shown does not match what you expect, and understanding why makes it easy to fix.
The most common reason is a pending online top-up. When you recharge your NOL card via nol.ae or the NOL Pay app, the credit is held in RTA’s system as pending. It does not load onto the physical card chip until you tap the card on any RTA reader metro gate, bus validator, or TVM. Until that first physical tap, the card chip still shows the old balance. The nol.ae dashboard separates the pending amount from the current chip balance so you can see both, but the physical card will only update after a tap.
Another reason is the difference between the chip balance and the account balance. When you check via NFC or at a TVM, you are reading the card chip directly. When you check via the nol.ae dashboard or the NOL Pay app account view, you may be seeing the account balance which includes pending transactions. After your next tap, these two figures align.
If your balance shows AED 0 despite recent use or a top-up, the card may have expired. NOL cards have a validity period printed on the front, and once a card expires, it stops working for travel even if it has stored value. The balance is not lost RTA allows you to claim or transfer it within two years of the expiry date but the card itself will be blocked. Check the expiry date on the front of your card, at a TVM, or on nol.ae. If it has expired, visit an RTA Customer Happiness Centre or call 800-9090 to arrange a balance transfer to a new card.
A less common reason is a minimum balance block. If your balance dropped to exactly AED 0 or went negative on a previous journey (which can happen on the metro in some circumstances), the card may be in a restricted state. Topping up will usually resolve this immediately.
Checking RTA NOL Card Balance Without Registration
You do not need a registered account to check your RTA NOL card balance. Three of the five methods covered in this guide work fully for unregistered cards:
The metro station TVM works for all card types with no account needed. The nol.ae guest balance check requires only your 16-digit card number. The NFC tap via the NOL Pay app on Android requires no login and reads the card chip directly.
The limitation of unregistered checks is that you only see the current balance and last transaction not a full history. To access complete transaction records, purchase monthly passes online, manage card renewal, or report a lost card, you need a registered Personal NOL card linked to an nol.ae account.
For full details on the card number check method:
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Frequently Asked Questions
How do I check my RTA NOL card balance?
The fastest method for registered card holders is logging into nol.ae and going to My Cards, or opening the NOL Pay app where your balance shows on the home screen. For unregistered cards, visit any metro station TVM or use the guest balance check on nol.ae with your 16-digit card number. All methods are free.
Can I check my RTA NOL card balance without logging in?
Yes. Use the guest Check Card Balance feature on the nol.ae homepage by entering your card number, or tap your card on any metro station TVM. On Android, the NFC tap in the NOL Pay app also works without login.
What is the RTA number for NOL card balance help?
Call 800-9090 (toll-free in UAE) for all RTA NOL card enquiries including balance checks, top-up issues, disputed charges, and expired card transfers. Live chat is also available on rta.ae.
Why is my RTA NOL card balance wrong after topping up?
Online top-ups are held as pending until your physical card is tapped on any RTA reader. Until that first tap after recharging, the card chip shows the old balance. Board any bus or metro or tap at a TVM and the pending credit loads automatically.
Does checking the RTA NOL card balance cost anything?
No. All RTA balance check methods nol.ae, NOL Pay app, TVM, gate tap, and customer service are completely free. There are no fees for balance enquiries on any channel.
Can I check my balance from outside the UAE?
Yes. The nol.ae portal and the NOL Pay app both work from any internet connection globally. Your account balance is accessible from anywhere. Any online top-up made from abroad will load onto the card after your first tap on an RTA reader when you return to Dubai.
What if my RTA NOL card shows AED 0 but I have not used it recently?
The most likely cause is card expiry. Check the expiry date printed on the front of your card. If it has passed, the card is blocked even if it holds stored value. Contact RTA at 800-9090 or visit a Customer Happiness Centre to transfer your balance to a new card within the two-year redemption window.
