Dubai: The new Nol packages introduced by the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) are designed in such a way that the rate of discount increases with the size of the plan purchased.
For the first time since the introduction of Nol, the RTA has introduced savings packages for both Silver as well as Gold cards, in addition to the personalised Blue cards.
The value of plans varies depending on the period of subscription, category of card — Silver or Gold — and the zones they cover.
In 2011, RTA divided Dubai’s geographical areas into seven zones and the value of the fare is calculated based on a number of zones a passenger travels on public transport, including Dubai Metro, buses and Dubai Tram.
Now, RTA has introduced packs that are available for various subscription periods with access restricted to a single zone, two zones or multiple zones.
Commuters opting for the highest value plan, which is the multi-zone annual Silver package available for Dh2,670, can avail up to 47 per cent discount, with the daily fare broken down to Dh7.3. When compared with the new daily cap of Dh20, the savings can be measured up to almost 70 per cent.
The same annual pack for the special categories of the elderly, students and people dependent on social aid is available for half the regular price, with daily fares amounting to just Dh3.65.
Interestingly, the special categories can avail of all the packages for half the price of silver packs.
Annual Silver packs for one zone is available for Dh1,060 and the two-zone pack is sold at Dh1,770.
All subscriptions availed of on Gold card are double the price of Silver packs.
Commuters can also save significantly on quarterly and weekly packs. A multi-zone quarterly Silver pack costs Dh830, offering a discount of Dh220 when compared to the same category monthly pack.
As for weekly, a single zone pack will cost Dh50, a two-zone plan can be availed of for Dh80 and a multi-zone package is available for Dh110.
