Dubai's nol cards to double as Jaywan payment cards from November 2026 pilot

Dubai commuters will soon tap a single card for the metro, a taxi, parking and everyday shopping. The Roads and Transport Authority and Al Etihad Payments, the Central Bank of the UAE subsidiary that runs the national Jaywan card scheme, have signed an agreement to launch next-generation nol–Jaywan cards, with a pilot due to begin in November 2026.

The first phase covers public transport, public and private transport including taxis, and public parking, the RTA said. The cards will also be activated and managed through Android and iOS smartphones, and will carry more than 120 promotional offers and exclusive discounts. The RTA said the cards could be used on public and private transport and through online booking platforms for public transport across the UAE.

The tie-up sits inside the RTA's project to upgrade the nol system with account-based ticketing technology, which the authority says will widen payment options and knit travel into a single experience. Mattar Al Tayer, the RTA's director general and chairman of its board of executive directors, said the partnership "reflects RTA's approach to developing an integrated mobility system that puts customers at the heart of service design".

Saif Humaid Al Dhaheri, assistant governor for banking operations and support services at the Central Bank of the UAE and chairman of Al Etihad Payments, called the integration "a significant leap towards unifying the UAE's digital payments infrastructure", adding that wider Jaywan acceptance at home and abroad would support financial inclusion.

The RTA has not specified the exact pilot date, when the cards will be widely available, or whether existing nol cardholders will need to replace their cards. The authority said the rollout would proceed in successive phases, with the broader aim of linking transport services to everyday transactions.