Applicants for fare discount must present national ID

Dubai: Students, senior citizens and people with special needs who are applying for discounted Nol Blue cards will be asked to present their National Identity Cards, a Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) official said.

"All applicants must possess National Identity Cards to qualify for the discounted fare cards," said Mohammad Yousuf Al Mudharreb, Director of Unified Automated Fare Collection Department at the RTA.

He said passport copies will not be honoured when applying for the discounted fare cards. He said that the RTA has received a tremendous response as a huge number of people, mainly students, have either applied or inquired about the discounted fare cards but most of them are applying with passport copies which are not accepted.

"Please apply with the copy of your National Identity Card," he reiterated. This is the first RTA service for which the National Identity Card has been made mandatory. "

The RTA has started receiving applications for the discounted fare Nol Blue Cards with effect from March 15.

Students between the ages of five and 23 are eligible to apply for the special discounted fare Nol Blue Card to use public transport, including the Dubai Metro. The special fare card is for students in the UAE but they should be full-time students at accredited schools, colleges and universities.

Students, senior citizens (60 years and above) and special needs people can either apply online or submit their applications at ticketing counters at Metro and bus stations in Dubai.

Documents required for a student's application include a letter from the school, National Identity Card copy and a photograph. They can either attach documents with the online application or submit them at the ticketing counters at the Metro and bus stations.

Non refundable

"Cards will be delivered to them by courier within 15 days of submitting applications," Al Mudharreb said.

He also warned applicants to be very careful while applying for the special discounted cards because the special Nol Blue card is not refundable.

"A normal Nol Blue Card will be issued if we receive an application for the ‘discounted cards' category without mandatory documents required to get the discount cards," he added.

Applicants who qualify for the special categories of cards will have to apply for the Nol Blue Card which is a personalised card with the photo of the user. The cost of the Blue Card is Dh70, including Dh20 credit, and it can be recharged online, through banks and at the Metro and bus stations.

Where to apply

Applicants can log on to the Nol Card portal, www.nol.ae, or access it through RTA's website, www.rta.ae

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