On 14 February, His Highness Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Finance of the UAE and First Deputy Ruler of Dubai, and His Highness Sheikh Theyab bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Chairman of Etihad Rail, witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) and Etihad Rail, the developer and operator of the national railway network of the UAE at World Governments Summit 2024. The agreement signed by His Excellency Mattar Al Tayer, Director-General, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the RTA, and Shadi Malak, CEO of Etihad Rail, designates the RTA as the ticketing and payment partner for Etihad Rail.
This agreement also marks the first step of a joint venture where the RTA will work on creating ticket booking and fare payment solutions using its nol card system. The MoU also aligns with the UAE Digital Government Strategy 2025 and the Dubai Digital Strategy, which aim to drive Dubai towards digital transformation.
This indicates that once Etihad Rail becomes operational, passengers will have the option to buy tickets using Dubai's nol card as a possible method for booking their Etihad Rail tickets.
Commenting on this partnership, His Highness Sheikh Maktoum, said, "This MoU will foster integration among federal and local entities. It is an important step to introduce ticket reservation and payment systems which will be available to Etihad Rail’s passengers across the UAE. It marks a milestone in driving the integration between RTA’s transport modes and Etihad Rail, which represents a massive addition to the UAE’s mass transportation."
His Highness Sheikh Theyab, said, "This MoU will foster integration among federal and local entities. It is an important step to introduce ticket reservation and payment systems, which will be available to Etihad Rail’s passengers across the UAE. It marks a milestone in driving the integration between RTA’s transport modes and Etihad Rail, which represents a massive addition to the UAE’s mass transportation."
Ticketing Initiative Inline With RTA's Dhs 350 Million Nol Card Update
The ticketing initiative has emerged after the recent announcement of a Dhs 350 million upgrade to the nol card system made by RTA. The Dhs 350 million upgrade will facilitate trip planning, booking, and pre-payment via smart channels, offering users easy access to account balances, travel history, ticket pricing, and fare calculations. This simplification should help users avoid any unexpected issues when making payments.
Furthermore, it will utilise facial recognition and other biometric data to maintain security for online payments through smart devices. This move is part of Dubai's push towards a cashless society and aims to enhance security measures.
Moreover, this initiative aligns with nol's strategy to expand the card's utility across various services and solutions offered by government and private entities. By consolidating multiple services into a single card, nol aims to enhance user experience and contribute to the development of the national public transportation system.
Where Can You Use Nol Card
The nol card is a handy smart card widely used for paying transportation fares across Dubai's RTA public transport networks. Additionally, it's used to pay for parking fees at RTA parking zones and for entry fees at various attractions like the Etihad and Shindagha museums, as well as the Dubai Ladies Club. It's also accepted at select retail stores for purchases.
In 2023, there were an average of 2.5 million daily nol card transactions, totalling more than Dhs 2 billion. The number of active nol card users has surpassed five million, with over 30 million cards sold since the system's introduction in September 2009.