Using RTA Services in Dubai: Free RTA Apps & Nol Cards Uses

Dubai is a city that is constantly evolving – it has grown from a barren desert to a bustling urban destination, with towering skyscrapers and the most advanced road and public transportation systems. There are constant upgrades happening around the city, that are driving forward the Government’s goal of becoming the ultimate smart city in the world. And while we can only imagine what Dubai will look like in the future, residents are already enjoying the benefit and convenience of various smart services, one being the free RTA services in Dubai. If you are someone who isn’t aware of the smart e-Services offered by RTA Dubai, this article will be your guide. Read on to find out all about the features of the free RTA apps in Dubai, as well as, some tips on how to make the best use of your NOL card.

Dubai public transportation — RTA Dubai offers a range of services for residents in the city

The Roads and Transport Authority, abbreviated to RTA, is the government entity in Dubai that governs developing, planning and executing transport and traffic projects for both private and public transportation in Dubai. In recent years, RTA Dubai has launched various smart initiatives to digitalise and optimise the transportation system in the city – the most notable ones being, the introduction of the free RTA apps for public transportation users and vehicle owners.

Let’s look at the RTA services in Dubai, that each of these apps offers.

rta apps in Dubai for public transportation users

Before 2009, Dubai was not the city we see today – travelling from one point to another would take hours if you didn’t own a car and the only form of public transportation was either a taxi, abra or the very few buses. So much has changed since then – we can now hail a cab with just a tap on the screen, or, travel the entire city by hopping on to a train, bus, ferry and even a tram! But with all these different options for public transportation in Dubai, how do you what’s best suited for you? This is where the RTA Apps in Dubai come handy!

JLT Metro — The Dubai Metro is one of the most popular public transportation systems in Dubai

Currently, there are 3 free Dubai Apps for public transportations users offering a range of RTA services in Dubai, that can be used to plan any journey. They are:

Wojhati: A journey planner app that provides a real-time map with timings of bus routes and stops, major landmarks, as well as, departure and arrival timings. The Wojhati App is extremely helpful if you want to find out what time the bus will arrive/depart from the stop you are at. You can also get live transport updates about delays and diversions if there are any. Currently available on Apple, Andriod, Windows and Blackberry stores.
Public Transport: This app is your one-stop shop for all your RTA NOL card inquiries and transactions. With the Public Transport App you can check your NOL card balance online and also top up the NOL card online. You can also review your NOL transaction history and get to know all the information on all the Dubai public transportation services. Currently available only Apple and Andriod stores.
S’hail: This free RTA Dubai app is like a mini pocket guide for travelling around Dubai. You can plan a journey, see the available ride options, identify where is the nearest bus/metro stop and even get live updates on traffic. Currently available only Apple and Andriod stores.

guide to using the NOL CARD IN DUBAI

nol card tagging machine dubai — Apart from tagging into the Dubai metro, there are many other NOL card uses

The launch of the Dubai Metro in 2009 truly changed the dynamics of the city – so much that the residential areas near the metro stations are considered to be the most desirable housing units for many residents in Dubai. It connected the city like never and the introduction of the NOL card was the stepping stone to turning the city into a smart city.

Types and Prices for Dubai NOL Card

The Dubai NOL card is an electronic card that is used to pay for public transportation fares. There are five different types of NOL cards in Dubai, that come with varying benefits and serve different purposes, at different prices. Here are the current available NOL cards:

Gold Card – Allows you to ride exclusively in gold class, with slightly higher fares. AED 25 with AED 19 balance
Silver Card – Allows you to ride in the regular zones of the Metro. AED 25 with AED 19 balance
Blue Card (personalised) – Comes with your registered photo and name. Regular – AED 70 with AED 20 credit and Gold – AED 80 with AED 20 credit
Red Card – Perfect for single trips. Only valid for one-time use. AED 6 with AED 4 credit
Customised Card – Get a funky looking card with unique designs. AED 30

6 WAYS TO USE YOUR NOL CARD IN DUBAI

The NOL card is a versatile card, that has many different uses. For those of you who may not be aware, here are 6 things you can do with a NOL card in Dubai:

Use it to pay public transportation fares – All public transportation systems in Dubai require you to use a NOL card to pay for your fare. Entering any public transportation in Dubai without properly tagging in with a NOL car can result in hefty fines
Pay for your taxi fare – Dubai’s taxies accepts cash, credit card and even NOL cards as modes of payment – just make sure your card is topped up with enough balance
Shop at Zoom, Burger King, Circle K and more! – RTA recently confirmed that purchases can be made at over 1,000 retail outlets with the Dubai NOL card
Use it to enter the public parks – You can enter public parks such as Zabeel, Mushriff with your NOL card
Pay for parking – Your NOL card can be used at paid parking meters across the city to pay for parking.
Earn discounts – RTA Dubai recently announced that public transportation users will be able to earn points (1 point on AED 2 spent while travelling) on their NOL card, that can later be redeemed on discounts at stores and restaurants.

RTA apps and services for car owners in Dubai

dubai car number plate — The biggest benefits of using the smart app in Dubai is that you can manage all your renewals and payments online

There are a lot of RTA apps for public transportation in Dubai, but car owners don’t be disheartened! There are just as many RTA apps in Dubai for vehicle owners, as there are for public transport users. Here are the 5 apps in Dubai for car owners, that offer a range of RTA smart services, which include Diving license renewal, vehicle registration, payment of fines and more.

RTA Dubai: If you own a car – you must have this app! Looking for a way to pay your car fines online? Or maybe you’re wondering how to renew your Dubai driving license online. The RTA Dubai is the multifunctional app that allows you to do all this and more. You can even pay for your parking, top up your Salik balance and chat with an RTA representative instantly. Currently available only Apple, Andriod and Windows stores.
RTA Smart Drive: This is like Google Maps for Dubai. The RTA smart drive app provides you with maps and directions to all destinations in Dubai and also gives you live alerts on traffic. The best part is that this smart app in Dubai works offline too! Currently available only Apple and Andriod stores.
Smart Salik: This app is exclusive to managing your Salik account on-the-go. With this Salik app, users can view their balance, recharge any account, view/download statements, access information content and more. Currently available on Apple, Andriod, Windows and Blackberry stores.
Dubai Drive: Another Dubai smart app where you can view enhanced details of your vehicle registration, parking services as well as Salik. Currently available only Apple and Andriod stores.

RTA smart App services in a nutshell

With all these available apps, there is no need to worry about hectic runs to the RTA service centres in Dubai. All you have to do is make sure these apps are installed and you’re good to go! Here are all the things you can do with the RTA Dubai smart apps:

Pay for your parking (Pro tip: If you use the RTA App, you don’t get charged extra cost that comes when sending an SMS)
View and top-up your Salik balance
Chat with an RTA representative
Save your documents such as driving license and vehicle registration
Renew your driving license or vehicle registration
View and pay fines that have been issued to your vehicle
Get live updates about traffic
Get to know about the nearest Dubai public transportation to you

There we have it! Your ultimate guide on using the RTA services in Dubai. Whether you have a car or are an exclusive user of the public transportation system in Dubai, having these free RTA apps on your smartphone will definitely make your life easier. These apps are truly a blessing for us all, so make sure to have them installed and make sure you know all the features available. If you are looking for more ways to be tech-savvy, why not try getting these cool smart home devices and easily convert your Dubai home into a smart home.

Which of these Dubai RTA e-Services features did you find most interesting? Let’s us know in the comment section below and for more updates and tips about life in Dubai, stay tuned to MyBayut – the number one real estate blog in Dubai.

Your guide to using RTA’s Apps and services in Dubai