RTA OFFICIAL GUIDE
How to Recharge NOL Card Online
Top up your Dubai NOL card in minutes using nol.ae, NOL Pay app, metro ticket machines, debit/credit card, or retail outlets. Step-by-step for all recharge methods.
What Is NOL Card Recharge?
Recharging your NOL card — also called a NOL card top up — means adding monetary credit to your RTA transit card so you can travel on the Dubai Metro, RTA Bus, Dubai Tram, Water Bus, and use paid RTA parking. You can recharge your NOL card online at any time via nol.ae or the NOL Pay app, or offline at metro stations and authorised retail outlets.
Whether you need to load your NOL card online, complete an RTA card recharge, or top up at a Carrefour cashier, all methods take less than 5 minutes. The minimum recharge amount is AED 10 and your card can hold up to AED 1,000 (Silver) or AED 5,000 (Personal/Registered card).
5 Ways to Recharge Your NOL Card
All official RTA-authorised methods – online and offline
Method 1: nol.ae Website
- Go to nol.ae and log in (or register)
- Click "Recharge NOL Card"
- Enter your 16-digit NOL card number
- Choose top-up amount (min AED 10)
- Pay via Visa, Mastercard, or Maestro
- Tap card on metro gate or TVM to activate
Method 2: NOL Pay App
- Download NOL Pay on iOS or Android
- Register with your Emirates ID
- Link your physical NOL card via NFC
- Tap "Top Up" and choose amount
- Pay with saved card or Apple/Google Pay
- Balance updates instantly on the app
Method 3: Metro Ticket Machine (TVM)
- Find a TVM at any Dubai Metro station
- Select "Recharge NOL Card" on screen
- Place your NOL card on the card reader
- Choose top-up amount
- Insert cash (AED notes) or pay by card
- Balance loads immediately – collect receipt
Method 4: Debit / Credit Card Online
Recharge your NOL card online using a Visa, Mastercard, or Maestro debit/credit card on nol.ae. Both UAE-issued and international cards are accepted. This is the fastest way to pay NOL card online — no app download required. The transaction is secured by 3D Secure authentication.
Debit Card Recharge Guide →Method 5: Retail Outlets & Exchange Houses
Top up your NOL card at authorised partners including Carrefour, ENOC/EPPCO petrol stations, Al Ansari Exchange, and selected supermarkets. Simply ask the cashier for an "NOL card top up," hand over your card and cash amount. Minimum top-up applies per outlet.
All Top-Up Methods →Method 6: RTA Customer Service Centre
Visit any RTA service centre across Dubai to top up your NOL card in person. Staff can also help with card registration, balance recovery, expiry renewal, and NOL card monthly pass activation. Centres are located at major metro stations and RTA offices.
RTA Official Methods →Tips & Things to Know
Important details for a smooth NOL card top up experience
Online Recharge Needs Activation
After topping up via nol.ae or the NOL Pay app, tap your card once at any metro gate or TVM to download the new balance onto the chip.
Minimum & Maximum Balance
Minimum top-up is AED 10 online. Your card needs at least AED 7.5 to board any RTA transport. Silver card holds up to AED 1,000.
Check Expiry Before Recharging
If your NOL card is expired, recharging won't work. Check your NOL card expiry first and renew it at an RTA centre if needed.
Consider the Monthly Pass
Daily commuters save more with an NOL card monthly pass (from AED 170/month). You can buy it via nol.ae, NOL Pay app, or a metro station TVM.
Auto-Recharge Option
Registered NOL card holders can enable auto top-up via nol.ae so the card recharges automatically when the balance drops below a set threshold.
Works for Dubai Bus & Metro Card
The same NOL card is used for the Dubai Metro, RTA Bus, Dubai Tram, and Water Bus. A single recharge covers all transport modes — no separate top-ups needed.
Detailed Recharge Guides
Related NOL Card Topics
Everything else you need to manage your RTA NOL card
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I recharge my NOL card online?
You can recharge your NOL card online by visiting nol.ae, logging into your account, entering your 16-digit card number, selecting the top-up amount (minimum AED 10), and paying with a Visa or Mastercard. Alternatively, use the NOL Pay app on iOS or Android to top up instantly. After online recharge, tap your card at any metro gate or TVM to activate the balance.
Can I recharge my NOL card without registering?
Yes. You can recharge an unregistered (anonymous) Silver NOL card on nol.ae using just your 16-digit card number — no account login required. However, registering your card allows auto top-up, balance recovery if lost, monthly pass purchases, and transaction history access.
What is the minimum and maximum amount to top up a NOL card?
The minimum online recharge amount is AED 10. You can top up in multiples of AED 10 up to a maximum balance of AED 1,000 for a Silver (unregistered) NOL card or AED 5,000 for a registered Personal NOL card linked to your Emirates ID.
How do I recharge an RTA card (NOL card) at a metro station?
Go to any Ticket Vending Machine (TVM) at a Dubai Metro station. Select "Recharge NOL Card," place your card on the reader, choose your desired amount, and pay with cash (AED notes) or a bank card. The balance is loaded instantly — no activation tap is needed.
Can I use a debit card to recharge my NOL card?
Yes. You can recharge your NOL card using any Visa, Mastercard, or Maestro debit card on nol.ae. Both UAE-issued and international debit cards are accepted. The payment is secured via 3D Secure (OTP verification). See the full NOL card recharge by debit card guide.
How do I top up a NOL card using the NOL Pay app?
Download NOL Pay (formerly NOL Plus) from the App Store or Google Play. Register with your Emirates ID, link your physical NOL card via NFC, tap "Top Up," select your amount, and complete payment. The balance shows instantly in the app. You may still need to tap your card at a metro reader once to sync the balance to the chip.
Where can I top up my NOL card offline in Dubai?
You can top up offline at: (1) All Dubai Metro TVMs, (2) RTA customer service centres, (3) Carrefour supermarkets, (4) ENOC and EPPCO petrol stations, (5) Al Ansari Exchange and other authorised exchange houses. Ask the cashier for an "NOL card top-up" at retail outlets.
Is "NOL card recharge" the same as "NOL card top up"?
Yes — NOL card recharge, NOL card top up, and load NOL card online all refer to the same action: adding monetary credit to your NOL card. You may also see it called RTA recharge, metro card recharge, or Dubai bus card recharge — they all use the same NOL card and the same top-up process.
What is the NOL card monthly pass and how do I recharge it?
The NOL card monthly pass gives you unlimited Metro, Bus, and Tram rides for a fixed monthly fee — from AED 170 (1 Zone) to AED 350 (All Zones). You can purchase and activate it via nol.ae, the NOL Pay app, or any RTA customer service centre. It is linked to your Personal (registered) NOL card only. See the full monthly pass guide.
Why is my NOL card not accepting the recharge?
Common reasons include: (1) Your card has expired — check at nol.ae or a TVM and renew at an RTA centre; (2) You have reached the maximum balance limit (AED 1,000 for Silver cards); (3) You have not tapped the card at a metro gate after an online top-up; (4) The card chip is damaged. Visit an RTA service centre if the issue persists.
