Getting Around the UAE as a Student: Nol Card, Hafilat and Commuting Costs (2026)

Updated October 2026 · UAE College editorial team

Where you live and how you commute can change your monthly budget by hundreds of dirhams, and it can matter as much as tuition when you compare cities. This guide explains how public transport works for students in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and the northern emirates, how to apply for the discounted student Nol card, what the Abu Dhabi student options cost, and when a university shuttle or living near campus is the smarter choice. For wider budgeting, combine it with our cost calculator and the colleges by emirate pages.

Why Transport Should Influence Your Choice of University

The UAE is spread out. A university can be a 15-minute walk from a metro station or a 60-minute bus ride from the nearest affordable housing. Students in Dubai often choose cheaper accommodation in Sharjah or Ajman and commute, while those in Abu Dhabi usually rely on buses and campus shuttles. Because rents and fares differ by emirate, the cheapest tuition is not always the cheapest total cost. Compare locations on our Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and Ajman hubs before you commit.

Dubai: The Student Nol Card

Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) offers a student Nol card with a 50 per cent discount on Metro, bus and tram fares. Reports on the card describe eligibility for students aged 6 to 23 enrolled in a school or university in the UAE, and it comes with ISIC international student privileges in more than 130 countries.

What it costs

Reported application price of about AED 70 for the personalised silver card: AED 50 application fee plus AED 20 starting credit.
An additional AED 25 for ISIC registration, according to the same reports.
Fares are then charged at half the standard rate on eligible RTA services.

How to apply

Complete university enrolment and obtain your Emirates ID (see our student visa guide for the sequence).
Download the nol Pay app and start a student card application.
Upload an enrolment letter, a white-background photo and your Emirates ID.
If your university requires it, add a No Objection Certificate (NOC). Some institutions, for example RIT Dubai, state this in their student guidance.
Collect or receive the card and top it up through the app or ticket machines.

The age cap matters for postgraduates. If you are over 23 you may not qualify for the discounted card, so budget for standard fares and check the current RTA rules before applying.

Abu Dhabi: Hafilat Card and Student Permit

Abu Dhabi’s public bus network uses the Hafilat smart card. Reports list a student Hafilat card at about AED 5 for eligible students who present a student ID, and a student permit priced at AED 500 a year that covers unlimited trips in Abu Dhabi city and its suburbs, Al Ain and Al Dhafra according to Gulf News. Note that the permit is not free, despite sometimes being described that way.

Separately, Abu Dhabi announced on 29 August 2026 that the Hafilat card will be free for one year for high-achieving public-school graduates with an average of 95 per cent or above in 2025 to 2026. That scheme targets government-school students, so most international applicants will not qualify.

Abu Dhabi is more car-dependent and its universities are more spread out, so many institutions run their own shuttles. Check what your campus offers on the college page; see for example Abu Dhabi University.

Sharjah, Ajman and the Northern Emirates

Sharjah has an intercity and city bus network that links to Dubai, and Ajman and Ras Al Khaimah also have bus services, but I could not confirm a current student-specific fare discount for Sharjah from the sources reviewed, so check with the Sharjah Roads and Transport Authority before relying on one. Students at American University of Sharjah, Ajman University and others often use campus transport and shared taxis. If you plan to commute between Sharjah and Dubai, build in extra time for peak-hour traffic, which can double journey times on the main highways.

University Shuttles: Often the Best Value

Several universities run bus services between campus, residences and popular districts. Middlesex University Dubai and the University of Birmingham Dubai, for example, publish student transport information on their websites. Shuttles can be free, bundled into fees or charged per semester. Ask admissions three questions: which routes run, what they cost and what time the last bus leaves, because evening classes and library hours can clash with schedules.

Monthly Commuting Budget by City

The figures below are planning estimates based on the reported fees above and typical daily travel, not official tariffs. Check current fares on the Nol, Hafilat and university pages.

City	Main option	What you pay	Planning estimate
Dubai	Student Nol card, Metro and bus	Half fare on eligible RTA services plus a one-off card cost	Lower three figures AED a month for daily commuting
Abu Dhabi	Student Hafilat or AED 500 annual student permit	Per-trip fares or annual permit	Annual permit works out to roughly AED 42 a month
Sharjah / Ajman	University bus, intercity bus, shared taxi	Varies; confirm with operator	Check local operator and campus options
Any city	Ride-hailing and taxis	Metered fares	Occasional use only; costs add up quickly

Tips to Cut Your Transport Costs

Live within walking distance or one metro stop of campus if rent allows. Compare housing near campus before choosing a cheaper but distant suburb.
Apply for the student Nol card as soon as your Emirates ID arrives; each month without it costs you the discount.
Ask about the annual permit in Abu Dhabi if you will travel daily.
Use university shuttles for evening and weekend classes if they run.
Share rides with classmates for late-night trips rather than riding alone.
Check the age cap and eligibility each year; rules and prices change.

If you are comparing study destinations beyond the UAE, study in UAE from India and our other country guides include living-cost comparisons.

A Sample Week: Three Commuting Scenarios

Scenario 1: Dubai student living near a metro station

You live two stops from campus and ride the metro five days a week. With the student Nol card, each journey is charged at half fare, so your biggest transport cost is the one-off card fee. Weekend trips to the beach, malls and Dubai Marina are also discounted, which makes this the most flexible setup for students without a car.

Scenario 2: Abu Dhabi student using a bus and campus shuttle

You live in a student residence and take the university shuttle to classes, using the Hafilat card for evenings and weekends. If you travel daily across the city, compare the cost of per-trip fares with the AED 500 annual permit; the permit is usually better value for heavy users and worse for people who mostly walk or use shuttles.

Scenario 3: Sharjah resident studying in Dubai

Rent in Sharjah is often lower, but intercity commuting adds fares and time. Budget for at least one to two hours of daily travel at peak times, and check whether your university runs a Sharjah route. Many students find that the rent saving is real only if the commute is predictable. Test the journey during rush hour before you sign a lease.

Whichever setup you choose, keep a month of receipts when you first arrive. Actual spending is the best guide for the rest of the year, and it helps you decide whether a permit, a shuttle or a move closer to campus will save money. Our explore page and the affordable universities list can help you compare total costs by campus.

Do You Need a Car or a Driving Licence?

Most students do not. Between metro, buses, shuttles and taxis, car ownership adds insurance, registration, parking and fuel costs that are hard to justify on a student budget. If you do plan to drive, check whether your home licence can be converted or whether you must take a UAE driving course, and factor in the cost of both. For many students, the money is better spent on a room close to campus.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much discount does the Dubai student Nol card give?

Reports describe a 50 per cent discount on Metro, bus and tram fares, plus ISIC privileges abroad for eligible students.

Who is eligible for the student Nol card?

Published guides list students aged 6 to 23 enrolled in a UAE school or university. Some universities require an NOC, so confirm with yours.

How much does the Abu Dhabi student permit cost?

Gulf News reports an annual student permit at AED 500 for unlimited trips in Abu Dhabi city and suburbs, Al Ain and Al Dhafra, and a student Hafilat card at about AED 5.

Is there a student discount on Sharjah buses?

I could not confirm a current student fare discount from the sources reviewed. Check with Sharjah Roads and Transport Authority and your university.

Should I live near campus or commute?

If you can afford it, living near campus saves time and transport costs, but cheaper housing in a neighbouring emirate can still win on total cost if you have a shuttle or metro link.

Choose a campus that fits your budget and commute

Compare UAE universities by emirate, fees and facilities, then apply through UAE College.

Find your college on UAE College

Sources

Fees, eligibility and policies change. Always confirm with the university and the official authority before paying or applying.