Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority has introduced a new way to pay for public transport trips, letting riders show a QR code on their smartphone instead of carrying a paper red Nol ticket. The digital ticket can be bought through the Nol Pay or S'hail apps, with passengers able to purchase it up to 90 days ahead of travel. Using it is straightforward: to enter the metro, a rider holds their phone face-down with the QR code showing over the gate reader; for buses, the phone is held face-up over the red Nol card reader until the fare is accepted. One detail riders should keep in mind is that the ticket activates the moment it's first scanned and automatically expires at midnight that same day, no matter when it was activated in the morning or afternoon. That means a ticket cannot be saved and used the following day. The QR ticket works across Dubai's metro, tram and bus network, and the RTA has stressed it is an additional option rather than a replacement — silver, gold and personal Nol cards remain valid and commuters can keep using them as before. The move is the latest step in Dubai's push to digitise everyday transport payments, following a broader shift toward phone-based services across the emirate. By cutting reliance on single-use paper tickets, the RTA hopes to speed up boarding at busy stations and make the system more convenient for both residents and the millions of tourists who use public transport each year during the city's peak travel season.