Dubai Bus Fare Zones: How nol Zones Work and Which Zone Al Quoz Bus Station Is In
How Dubai's nol fare zones work: AED 3, 5 or 7.50 depending on how many zones you cross, the 30-minute transfer rule, and which zone Al Quoz Bus Station is in.
Dubai's buses, Metro, tram and water buses all charge by zone. The city is divided into 7 fare zones, and at the end of a trip you pay for the number of zones you passed through (RTA).
Fares by zone
| Trip | Silver nol | Red ticket |
|---|---|---|
| Within 1 zone | AED 3 | AED 4 |
| 2 adjacent zones | AED 5 | AED 6 |
| More than 2 zones | AED 7.50 | AED 8.50 |
The Gold card costs double the Silver fare (AED 6, 10 or 15) for the Gold Class cabin on the Metro and tram. A registered Personal card with the 50% discount pays AED 1.50, 2.50 or 3.75.
Fares are from the RTA nol fares page, checked in October 2026. On buses a Gold card pays the same as Silver, because buses have no Gold Class.
So the minimum bus fare in Dubai is AED 3, on a Silver or Personal nol card for a trip within one zone. Our Dubai fare calculator works it out for single trips and passes.
How zones are counted
You tap in when you board and tap out when you get off. The reader counts the zones between the two points:
- If both ends are in the same zone, you pay the one-zone fare.
- If you cross into a neighbouring zone, you pay the two-zone fare.
- Anything longer pays the top fare. However far you go, a single journey never costs more than that.
Changing between bus and Metro: you have 30 minutes after tapping out to tap in on the next bus, Metro or tram. If you make it, the two legs count as one journey, charged on the zones of the whole trip. One journey can last up to 180 minutes, with up to 3 transfers (RTA).
If you forget to tap out on a bus, the reader can't tell where you got off. Always tap out.
Which zone is Al Quoz Bus Station in?
Zone 2, most likely. Al Quoz Bus Station is in Al Quoz Industrial Area 1, next to Onpassive Metro station on the Red Line (Property Finder). Wikipedia lists Onpassive, and the next station along, Equiti, in fare zone 2 (Wikipedia).
RTA doesn't publish a list of zones for each bus stop, so treat this as a strong guide rather than an official answer. The S'hail app shows the fare for your exact trip.
What it costs from Al Quoz Bus Station:
- A trip that stays in zone 2 costs AED 3.
- A trip into a neighbouring zone costs AED 5.
- A longer trip costs AED 7.50.
The intercity non-stop bus to Abu Dhabi from Al Quoz is a separate service with its own fare; see the Abu Dhabi to Dubai bus guide.
Passes
If you travel every day, a pass can be cheaper than paying per trip. A 30-day Silver pass costs AED 140 for 1 zone, AED 230 for 2 zones and AED 350 for all zones. See the nol card guide for every card and pass.
Frequently asked questions
How many fare zones does Dubai have?
Seven. Every Metro, tram and bus station belongs to one of them.
What is the minimum bus fare in Dubai?
AED 3 on a Silver or Personal nol card, for a trip within one zone.
Which zone is Al Quoz Bus Station?
Most likely zone 2. It's next to Onpassive Metro station, which is in zone 2.
Do I pay again when I change from the Metro to a bus?
No, if you tap in on the bus within 30 minutes of leaving the Metro. The trip is charged as one journey.
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