Student Nol Card Eligibility, Application and Renewal

Introduction

A student nol card is a personal card with an approved student concession for eligible learners in the UAE. RTA’s current service information covers students aged 5 to 23 enrolled in a school, college or university in the UAE. The approved student category provides a 50% discount on eligible Dubai Metro, tram and bus fares.

The discount depends on the active concession, not just the colour of the card. A regular Blue personal card does not automatically receive student fares. Check your category, eligibility and renewal date before using the card for a daily school or university journey.

Eligibility and proof of study

Start with RTA’s personal nol card application service. The current requirements identify UAE-based study and the eligible age range. For student applications, the service can retrieve qualifying records electronically through KHDA or request a recent official enrolment letter.

Use the student’s own identity information and a letter that confirms the current academic year when one is required. A previous year’s acceptance letter may not prove current enrolment. Make sure the spelling and identity details match the application so a small mismatch does not delay the verification.

RTA provides a process for a guardian applying on behalf of an eligible minor. Follow the service’s UAE Pass and guardianship instructions rather than signing in as a different person without using that process. Students aged 18 and over should follow the independent application requirements shown by the current service.

Apply through nol Pay

1. Sign in through the official service. Open nol Pay and use the appropriate UAE Pass account. This allows the application to match the applicant’s identity and retrieve the information permitted by the service.
2. Choose the personal-card application and student segment. Confirm whether you are applying for yourself or through the authorised guardian process. Selecting the right segment is what makes the application a student concession request rather than a regular personal card.
3. Provide the requested study evidence. Use electronically retrieved records where supported, or upload the current enrolment document requested. Review the information before submitting rather than assuming a school name alone establishes eligibility.
4. Review the product and pay after approval. Check the card choice, delivery details and offered fee. Save the application reference and follow the status messages so you know whether further verification or payment is needed.

Use RTA’s stated processing and delivery information for the application type you select. Electronically approved and manually checked applications can have different timelines. If a card is delayed, track the existing reference instead of submitting another application that may leave you with duplicate pending requests.

Price and what the discount covers

The standard published student personal-card price is AED 70, made up of AED 50 application cost and AED 20 balance. The current service also lists optional products and designs with different fees. Read the final amount before payment if you choose an ISIC-linked student product or another offered variation.

The student concession applies to the eligible Metro, tram and bus services in Dubai; RTA excludes intercity and seasonal buses from the ordinary student fare concession. Do not assume it discounts a coach to another emirate. A shopping payment made using nol is also not automatically half-price because the transport concession is active.

For the fare bands on your daily route, read the Dubai metro zones guide. A journey with a regular AED 5 eligible fare would be AED 2.50 under an active 50% concession. The example explains the percentage; use the current fare and permitted service when calculating your own trip.

Student passes and regular travel

An eligible student can compare pay-as-you-go travel with the discounted passes available for the relevant zones and duration. Use the nol all-zone pass guide to see the published options, then count how many journeys you expect to make. A short term, study break or changing campus can alter which product offers better value.

Choose the zone range using the actual route between home and school. An all-zone pass offers flexibility but may be more than you need for a routine within one area. Keep enough stored value for journeys or purchases outside the selected pass coverage instead of assuming the card has become unlimited everywhere.

Renew the concession before it expires

RTA states that the student concession is valid for one year and must be renewed while the holder remains eligible. The personal card itself has a separate validity period. A card that still works at a gate can therefore charge the standard fare after its concession has ended.

Use the current renewal service and provide updated study evidence when requested. Check the concession status after renewal and keep the reference until the new eligibility is recorded. If a journey is charged at the ordinary fare, review the category and expiry before assuming the reader has made a mistake.

The Blue nol card guide explains the broader personal-card benefits and categories. Keep the student card for its named holder; lending it to someone else is not a way to share the discount. If it is lost or damaged, use the appropriate official replacement process rather than giving another person’s concession card to the student.

Final thoughts

Apply in the student category, provide current enrolment evidence and check the active concession after approval. The yearly renewal is as important as the first application. With the right zones and product, the card can make a regular eligible Dubai journey easier to budget.

Featured graphic: original UAERoutes diagram. Service information checked 4 October 2026 against the provider’s published information.