UAE | Traffic and Transport

Dubai Metro: Savings for senior citizens

RTA offers discounts on metro and bus for 60 years and above.

  • By Ashfaq Ahmed, Chief Reporter
  • Published: 22:56 June 23, 2009
  • Gulf News

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Dubai: Commuters, who are 60 years of age and above, will be able to get special discounted fares for the Dubai Metro and public bus in the senior citizens category, said a senior official.

Ramadan Abdullah, Director of the Rail Operations Department at the RTA, told Gulf News that the senior citizens and students would be offered special discounted fares.

"Any commuter who is 60-year-old and above falls in the senior citizens category," he said.

Abdullah, however, explained the special discounted fare cards for senior citizens and students would be rolled out at least two to three months after the metro launch on September 9.

"Different categories of Nol cards will be introduced in phases but only the basic cards and tickets will be available for the Metro launch," he added.

He said that people with special needs would also get discounted fare and it would be announced later.

Single journey fixed fare for seniors and students using the unified cards will be 90 fils compared to the normal Dh1.8 for a journey not exceeding 3km while it will be Dh1.15 compared to Dh2.5 for a single zone.

The fare will be Dh2.5 compared to normal fare Dh4.5 in two zones and Dh2.90 compared to normal fare of Dh6.5 in three zones or more.

A 30-day pass for senior citizens will cost Dh200 while students pay Dh170 for unlimited travel.

The Nol Red cards, Nol Silver Cards and the Nol Blue cards will be available in the market closer to the metro launch whereas the Nol Blue Card and special discounted fare cards will be introduced gradually after the launch of the metro.

The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) introduced on Monday the Unified Automated Fare Collection Cards (UAFC) for Dubai Metro and public buses.

Fare for the Dubai Metro will range from a minimum Dh1.8 to maximum Dh6.5 for a single journey. A daily unlimited trip pass will cost Dh14 on Metro and the public buses all over the city. Monthly passes will cost Dh100, Dh180 and Dh270.

Abdullah said that senior citizens, students and people with special needs will have to register with the RTA to avail of special discounted cards. The RTA will soon announce the procedure for the registration. He said that registration of the cards and the top-up facilities would also be available online soon.

Once fully launched, the Nol cards will offer various other features in phases such as loyalty points programme, auto recharge facility and car parking.

Cards: Types of fare

There are four types of unified automated fare collection cards called Nol Silver, Nol Blue, Nol Gold and Nol Red.

Nol Silver Card will be the most economical and frequently used card. It will have an e-purse rechargeable up to Dh500. This card can be used immediately upon purchase, rechargeable at any ticket booth.

Nol Blue Card is a personalised card (with user photo inserted on the card) and no other user can use it should it be lost or stolen. It will be launched early next year. It will have e-purse and can have credit of up to Dh500. It enables the user to obtain secure online services such as balance recharging, inquiry about transactions, lodging complaints and receiving SMS.

Nol Gold Card will be used for the commuters intending to use the Gold Class cabin in the trains. However, the users will be able to use this card for Silver Class as well. Nol Red Card costs Dh2 and can be recharged for up to 10 journeys maximum. It is good for the occasional users of public transport. This ticket doesn't have an e-purse account, and has to be pre-paid with the correct journey type. It will be valid for 90 days from the date of purchase.

Tagging: How to use the Nol card/ticket

- Nol cards are contactless cards n Card reading machine will be installed at the entry and exit points of the metro stations platforms

- A passenger has to check in at the start of the journey and check out at the end of the journey by tagging the Nol card on the card reading machines attached to the metro platform entry and exit point gates.

- All the public buses will also have the card readers installed

- Fares will be deducted automatically according to the fare structure How to get Nol cards/tickets n Nol cards/tickets can be obtained from the ticket vending machines

- Ticket vending machines will be installed at the metro stations, bus stations, shopping malls and airports

- Nol cards/tickets can be obtained from the ticket offices at the metro stations/bus stations and RTA customer service centres

- Authorised sales agents will also be announced soon. Online sales and top up facility will also be launched at a later phase.

What is Nol?

The unified automated fare collection card (UAFC) has been named after an old Farsi word nol. "Nol" means "fare" or "cost of using transport". The word is not in common use these days.

Nol is similar to another Arabic word karwa - which is commonly used in Kuwaiti, Bahraini and Qatari dialects. Karwa means "fare" or "cost" of doing any service or certain job. In the past, nol was used to refer to fare or cost of using horse and donkey transportation.

- By Abdullah Rasheed, Abu Dhabi Editor and Ashfaq Ahmed, Chief Reporter


Your comments


Implementation of such a cheap and best mode of transport is really appreciable.
G.Daniel
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: June 24, 2009, 15:52

The Dubai Metro is going to be a great success for RTA. Without a doubt they have given great offers for both, old and young, passengers. Students, who usually hate to wake up early in the morning can now wake up much later and not worry about missing the bus. WELL DONE RTA!!! EVERYONE EXPECTS EVEN BETTER RESULTS!!!
Mustafa
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 24, 2009, 15:41

Its really fantastic to know about Dubai Metro has come up bang bang like in Australia really nice to c it.
Shuja Ali
Deira,Dubai,Dubai
Posted: June 24, 2009, 14:25

Wow..this is fantastic. Movements will be better facilitated. Transportation costs very well regulated. And more accessibility to places. Well done UAE!!! Keep up the good work!!
Kwesi Acquah-Dadzie
Ras Al Khaimah,UAE
Posted: June 24, 2009, 13:27

metro is a better way of transportation rather to move by taxi,bus etc but the main problem will be the metro stations,it will be useful to those who are residing or working near stations but what other has to do?because we have to use it as a transportations not as a journey.....! card system is better to avoid qeue for tickets and fare is also affordable,but one card should be made for buses and metro that we can use either in bus or in metro,
Shahzad Shaikh
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 24, 2009, 12:07

if i want to travel from bur dubai to al quoz on daily how much is my monthly charges?
Sreyas
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 24, 2009, 11:54

wow i love this at least there will be no problem on transportation jam anymore luck dubai
wahida
sharjah,uae
Posted: June 24, 2009, 11:49

i'm very happy for UAE authorities they give their public good facilities, I wish success for them all
Navas
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 24, 2009, 11:48

Warm welcome to RTA for introducing great offer for students and Senior citizens. Let's hope for further good news from RTA.
Shekhar
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 24, 2009, 11:31

its really a wonderful step taken by RTA by encouraging senior citizens and students to use dubai metro, which can reduce the traffic in dubai and the system of ticketing.
Mohammad Imtiaz Khan
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 24, 2009, 10:58

It is nice to see DXB develop so much. The melting pot of the world must be DXB now.
Anil Babladi
Calgary,Canada
Posted: June 24, 2009, 09:17

We are specially thankful to RTA , and Dubai Government , Such a wonderful consideration aged peoples and students , n world people eyes Dubai is a wonderful City
Lalu P George
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 24, 2009, 08:50

It's great pleasure to know the ultra modern system of ticketing in Dubai Metro. Installing card reading machines at entry and exit points are brilliant. But it may increase the chaos in exit points as people would rush to the come out. Providing a plenty of such machines may solve the problem. Considering the senior citizen, disabled and students is lovely. It shows the commitment of RTA to the society. Let's hope this endeavour will lessen the prevailing traffic situation of the city. I suggest the authority to keep instant cash payment system as well which is absent in some of the buses.
Mohammad Hyder
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 24, 2009, 08:30

Wonderfull offers given by RTA for the senior citizens.Well done!!! we are expectig more from RTA
James
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 24, 2009, 08:28

i'm very happy for govt of UAE they give their public good facilities, I wish success for them all
Mohammad Aslam Baloch
Balochistan,Pakistan
Posted: June 24, 2009, 08:25

good the metro red card very nice.all pepole using the card.
Murugaraj
Chennai,India
Posted: June 24, 2009, 08:15

I really think that a great deal espicialy the unlimited trip pass which cost only 14 Dhs, while if i want to drive by my car, it will cost more than that. Given that the RTA will provide discount for senior citizens and people with special needs; this show that the RTA is trying to show a loyalty to the society and CSR (Corporate Social Responsibility), that in fact very good for RTA in the long-term...
Mohammad Qtaifan
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 24, 2009, 08:07

I sincerelry wish success to this integrated transport system in Dubai. My all praise and congratulate RTA for visulising city's need in time and quick implementation.
Abdul Aziz Ansari
Dubai,UAE
Posted: June 24, 2009, 03:54

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