Not every smartphone can carry a Virtual NOL Card, and knowing which ones do can save you a frustrating trip through setup screens that lead nowhere. This guide breaks down exactly which brands and devices currently support a Virtual NOL Card, what you need before you start, and what to expect if your phone isn’t on the list yet.
What Is a Virtual NOL Card?
A Virtual NOL Card is a digital version of Dubai’s physical nol transport card, stored directly inside your phone’s wallet app. It carries the same balance and nol tag ID as the physical card, and you tap your phone at Metro gates, bus validators, and tram readers instead of a plastic card.
Support for a Virtual NOL Card isn’t universal across all smartphones. RTA currently limits digitisation to specific device brands, which makes it worth checking your phone’s compatibility before attempting the conversion.
Which Phones Support a Virtual NOL Card?
Two smartphone brands currently support turning a physical card into a Virtual NOL Card: Samsung and Huawei. Apple’s iPhone does not support this feature at this time.
Samsung Devices
Samsung phones have supported the Virtual NOL Card since 2023, through an agreement between Samsung and RTA. The feature works through Samsung Wallet, and only Silver and Gold nol cards are eligible for conversion.
To use this feature, your Samsung device needs to be running a reasonably current version of Android, and Samsung Wallet needs to be updated to its latest version. Older Samsung models or devices running outdated software may not support the digitisation process, even if the phone itself has NFC capability.
Huawei Devices
Huawei has supported the Virtual NOL Card for longer than Samsung, with compatibility dating back to 2020. This works through the Huawei Wallet app, and select Huawei Watch 3 models also support carrying a digitised card.
As with Samsung, only Silver and Gold nol cards qualify for conversion on Huawei devices. The Red Ticket and Blue card do not follow this same digitisation path.
iPhone Devices
Apple Wallet does not currently support a Virtual NOL Card. iPhone users can store other RTA-related items, such as a Dubai-registered driving licence or vehicle registration card, in Apple Wallet, but the nol card itself remains physical-only on iOS for now.
If you use an iPhone, your best option is to continue using a physical Silver, Gold, or Blue NOL Card, or to explore linking your card to your RTA account through the nol Pay app for better balance management, even without full digitisation.
How to Check If Your Phone Supports a Virtual NOL Card
Before starting the setup process, confirm the following:
- Your phone is a Samsung or Huawei device, since these are the only brands currently supported.
- Your device software and wallet app (Samsung Wallet or Huawei Wallet) are updated to their latest versions.
- Your device has working NFC capability, since this is required to read and transfer your card’s data.
- Your existing NOL Card is a Silver or Gold card, since these are the only types eligible for digitisation.
Setting Up a Virtual NOL Card on a Supported Phone
On Samsung
- Open Samsung Wallet.
- Tap Transport Card.
- Select Add nol Card.
- Follow the prompts, which redirect to the nol Pay app to finish the setup.
- Once confirmed, your physical card is deactivated and your Virtual NOL Card becomes active.
On Huawei
- Open Huawei Wallet and tap the + icon near transportation cards.
- Select your Silver or Gold nol card.
- Choose Digitise an existing physical card.
- Follow the on-screen prompts to sync your card details.
- Tap Continue and wait a few minutes for the card to save to your wallet.
In both cases, the nol Pay app plays a role in completing the transfer, so it’s worth having it installed before you begin.
What Happens If Your Phone Isn’t Supported
If you own an iPhone or an older Samsung or Huawei device that doesn’t meet the software requirements, you won’t be able to create a Virtual NOL Card at this time. This doesn’t affect your ability to use a physical card normally, and you can still link your physical card to your RTA account through the nol Pay app for features like transaction tracking and top-up management.
RTA has expanded digitisation support over time, first launching with Huawei in 2020 and later adding Samsung in 2023, so it’s reasonable to expect broader device support could roll out in the future.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Does Apple Wallet support a Virtual NOL Card? No. Apple Wallet does not currently support digital nol card storage. iPhone users need to continue using a physical card.
2. Can I use a Virtual NOL Card on any Samsung phone? Only Samsung devices running a current Android version with an updated Samsung Wallet app support this feature. Very old models may not be compatible.
3. Do I need the nol Pay app to set up a Virtual NOL Card? Yes. Both the Samsung and Huawei setup processes redirect through the nol Pay app to complete digitisation.
4. Can a Red Ticket be turned into a Virtual NOL Card? No. Only Silver and Gold cards are eligible for conversion into a virtual card.
5. What happens to my physical card once I set up a Virtual NOL Card? The physical card is deactivated once the digital transfer is complete, and your phone becomes the active card going forward.
6. Is a Virtual NOL Card available on Huawei Watch models? Yes, select Huawei Watch 3 models support carrying a digitised nol card, in addition to the Huawei Wallet app on phones.
7. Will iPhone support for a Virtual NOL Card be added eventually? There’s no confirmed timeline for iPhone support. RTA has expanded device compatibility gradually over the years, so this could change in the future.
Conclusion
A Virtual NOL Card is currently available only on Samsung and Huawei devices that meet specific software requirements, with Huawei supporting the feature since 2020 and Samsung joining in 2023. iPhone users don’t yet have this option and need to rely on a physical card. If your phone qualifies, setting up a Virtual NOL Card takes just a few steps through Samsung Wallet or Huawei Wallet, with the nol Pay app completing the process.