Dubai Tram to run in 6 months; this is what you may pay per trip

The official launch of the first phase of Dubai tram is only half a year away. Passengers will be able to board the tram in November this year and travel along a 10.6 kilometer-long track running from Al Sufouh area to Dubai Marina.

As the launch time is approaching, the details of the commute have started to come to the fore, with one important question remaining: how much will the passenger pay for a trip on Dubai Tram?

The fare of a tram trip will be based on the existing zoning system, explained Khalid Al Awadhi, Director of the Automatic Collections System (ASC) at RTA.

“The RTA Zoning System is the same for all public transport. When the Dubai Tram will be launched it will comply with the existing system.”

What does this mean for the passenger?

The Zoning System developed by the RTA divides the emirate of Dubai into seven zones, and the fare of a trip is deducted from the NOL card depending on the number of zones that was entered.

Based on the start and finish point, the journey will fall into one of four tiers:

- Tier 0 for a trip less than or equal to 3 km;

- Tier 1 for a trip that starts and ends in the same zone;

- Tier 2 for a trip that starts in one zone and ends in a neighbouring zone;

- And Tier 3 for a trip that crosses two or more zones.

Looking at the track of Dubai tram in the initial phase of the project,  the loop will not cross more than one zone. To be more accurate, the 10.6 kilometre-track falls entirely in Zone 2 of the RTA Zoning Syetem. Thus, the fare of a trip of Dubai Tram will relate to the Tier 0 or Tier 1 pricing.

The trip fare will depend on the type of Nol card that is used to pay for the trip. Currently, a Silver Class trip of less than or equal to 3 km costs Dh1.80, and a trip exceeding 3 km but remaining within one zone costs Dh2.30.

With a Gold Card, these fares are doubled; a Tier 0 fare comes to Dh3.60 while a Tier 1 fare costs Dh4.60.

Within the existing Zoning System, a Red Ticket can be purchased for Dh2. This ticket allows for a single trip or a day pass, often used by tourists that do not require the permanent Nol Card.  A single trip on the Silver Class costs Dh2 in Tier 0, and Dh2.50 in Tier 1. On the Gold Class, these fares relate to Dh4 and Dh5, respectively.

Furthermore, the Blue Nol card provides discounts for certain groups of people. While senior citizens and students are charged Dh0.90 or Dh1.15 for the respective Tiers, people will disabilities are not charged at all.

The RTA has clarified that the Nol card will be the payment method used on Dubai Tram and that both Silver Class and Gold Class will be provided on the tram. All stations will be equipped with TVM payment machines.

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