Landmark deal will see nol cards used to buy tickets on Etihad Rail

The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) and Etihad Rail signed an MoU at World Governments Summit (WGS) 2024, marking the first step in a joint venture that will see the RTA developing ticket booking and fare payment solutions through its nol system.

Currently, the nol ‘smart’ card is used for paying transportation fares across the RTA’s public transport networks as well as parking fees at RTA parking zones, among other services.

The agreement was signed by Mattar Al Tayer, director-general, chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the RTA, and Shadi Malak, CEO of Etihad Rail.

Mattar Al Tayer said, “This MoU supports the integration of public transportation systems with Etihad Rail aiming to offer seamless travel experiences for passengers across Dubai and other emirates by train.”

He added: “This initiative also aligns with nol’s strategy to broaden the use of nol cards across a variety of services, products, and solutions offered by external partners from both government and private entities.

“It seeks to enhance nol card users’ experience by consolidating multiple services into a single card, thereby contributing to the development of the national public transportation system through the implementation of a comprehensive first and last-mile strategy.”

The project aims to introduce a digital payment system using central transportation tariff wallet technology for seamless integration.

It focuses on operational enhancements and maximising the benefits from system-generated data, while also tailoring services and products to meet individual customer needs.

On the sidelines of the World Government Summit (WGS), RTA and Etihad Rail, signed an MoU for developing integrated solutions for Etihad Rail passenger enabling them to utilise nol system as one of the various ticket booking and fare payment solutions.
The MoU was signed by H.E.… pic.twitter.com/QI9JRSbcX5

— Etihad Rail (@Etihad_Rail) February 15, 2024

nol: A versatile card

RTA rolled out the nol Card on September 9, 2009, coinciding with the launch of the Dubai Metro.

In 2017, RTA expanded the card’s uses to encompass payment services at retail stores and entry fees to various public and private facilities across Dubai.

It can also be used to pay for entry fees at various attractions such as the Etihad and Shindagha museums, as well as the Dubai Ladies Club, alongside making purchases at select retail stores.

In 2023, the daily average of nol card use amounted to 2.5 million payment transactions valued at more than Dhs2bn.

The number of active nol card users has surpassed five million, with over 30 million cards being sold since the system was introduced in September 2009.

RTA also recently commissioned a project to upgrade the existing nol system, which involves transitioning from traditional plastic card technology to a more sophisticated system supported by digital payment technologies known as ‘Account Based Ticketing’, aligning with top international practices at an estimated cost of Dhs350m.