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United Arab Emirates

Dubai

A city of skyscrapers on a desert coast. The metro runs driverless; the boat across the creek costs one dirham.

Dubai Bus

Buy a nol card and tap it on the reader as you board. The fare depends on how many zones you cross, so you tap again when you get off. Buses do not stop unless you flag them down.

Updated on September 1, 2026

How to ride

  1. 1
    Get a nol card before you travel
    Buy one at a machine, a ticket office or an agent. Website and bank-app top-ups cannot be activated on a bus reader.
  2. 2
    Flag the bus down at the stop
    Wait clear of the stopping area and raise your hand when your route arrives, or it will drive past.
  3. 3
    Board at the front door and tap
    Hold the card to the reader beside the driver; a beep and a green light mean you are checked in.
  4. 4
    Press the bell for your stop
    Press the stop button before your stop, and stay seated until the bus has come to a complete halt.
  5. 5
    Tap again on your way off
    Tap the reader by the rear door before you step off; miss it and you are over-charged.

Fares

Single fares6

Within 1 zone (nol Silver)
The fare goes by how many zones you cross; the blue Personal card costs the same.
3 AED ≈ $0.8
Two adjacent zones (nol Silver)
AED 5 to cross into an adjacent zone; the blue Personal card costs the same.
5 AED ≈ $1
More than two zones (nol Silver)
This is the ceiling for a single journey, however far across the city you ride.
7.5 AED ≈ $2
Red Ticket (paper single)
AED 4, 6 or 8.5 by zones, plus AED 2 for the ticket itself.
4〜8.5 AED ≈ $1–2
Intercity bus (E routes)
A flat fare per destination - about 12 to Sharjah, 15 to Ajman and 30 to Abu Dhabi.
12〜30 AED ≈ $3–8
Hatta Express (H02)
From Dubai Mall Bus Station, every two hours between 07:00 and 19:00.
25 AED ≈ $7

Passes & multi-ride1

7-day pass (all zones)
AED 50 for one zone and 80 for two; anonymous cards can only buy the 7-day pass.
110 AED ≈ $30

Card itself1

nol Silver card
AED 6 issuance plus AED 19 of stored value; you need at least AED 7.5 on it to check in.
25 AED ≈ $7

Children & discounts1

Child aged 5 or under
Under-fives need no nol card at all; official pages differ on children who are exactly five.
0 AED

Estimates use exchange rates as of November 3, 2026

Payment

Tap to ride
There is no tap-to-ride with a bank card; nol is the only way to pay a fare.
Card payment at machines
The operator does not name the brands it accepts
Machines and ticket offices take cards for buying and topping up a nol card.
IC card
At the gates: Tap a nol card on the on-board reader once as you board and once as you get off.
App tickets
nol Pay
In the wallet: A virtual nol card can only be created on compatible Samsung and Huawei devices.
Paper tickets
At machines: Sold at machines and offices; each covers one mode of transport at a time.
Cash
At machines: Machines and offices take cash; the bus-side minimum top-up is AED 5. On board: Official pages disagree on whether cash works on board; buy before you ride.

Quick facts

Hours
04:00-01:00 next day
Fares from
3 AED+

Heads-up

  • Do not board with duty-free alcohol

    Carrying alcoholic beverages on public transport is a AED 500 fine. The rule covers buses, the metro, the tram and marine transport alike, including the bus ride in from the airport.

  • Stay out of the women and children section

    City buses have a section reserved for women, children and families. Entering or sitting in an area designated for a specific category of passenger carries a AED 100 fine.

  • Intercity buses cannot be used inside Dubai

    E routes only pick you up in the emirate you start from and only drop you off in the emirate you are heading to. You cannot use them to move around inside Dubai, nor to hop between stops inside Sharjah.

Timetable

Operating hours 04:00-01:00 next day
Check the official site for the latest times and service status
Editor Naotaka