Dubai: Earn up to One Million Nol Plus Points for Regular Use of Public Transport in Dubai, as part of the 14th Public Transport Day Celebrations that commenced on Wednesday, according to the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA).

The two-week-long celebration of public transport will continue until November 8, centered around the theme 'Gym on the Go.' This initiative aims to promote the public health and physical fitness of community members by encouraging the use of public transport. RTA will recognize and reward the most frequent users of public transport in Dubai, including the Dubai Metro, Tram, buses, and marine transport, over the past five years. This recognition extends to both the general public and individuals with determination. Special acknowledgments will be given to RTA employees, as well as participants from government and private entities engaged in the campaign.

To be eligible, participants in these three categories should register on the RTA's website, create an RTA user ID, and link it to their Nol card.

Rowdah Al Mehrizi, Director of Marketing and Corporate Communication at RTA, stated, "The top three most frequent riders in each category will receive rewards ranging from 250,000 to 1 million Nol Plus points."

Nol Plus is a loyalty and rewards program introduced by RTA for Nol card holders. Members accumulate points and receive special benefits every time they use their Nol card for Dubai Metro fares, taxi services, public buses, or parking fees. Commuters can use the loyalty points they earn to top up their Nol account or receive discounts when shopping or dining at select restaurants.

The actual Public Transport Day falls on November 1 and coincides with RTA's 18th anniversary. Al Mehrizi noted that it also aligns with the Dubai Fitness Challenge initiated by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Executive Council, which runs from October 28 to November 26 this year.

Al Mehrizi added, "RTA has planned several initiatives for this year's celebration, some of which are related to the designation of 2023 as The Year of Sustainability. The public can participate in sports activities at public transport stations over seven days, and everyone is invited to join various events and contests during the campaign."

Events for Public Transport Day include the GPS CANVAS Interface competition, which is led by well-known social media influencers. Each influencer will navigate Dubai using GPS and various public transport modes such as the metro, tram, ferry, bus, and abra. The objective is to encourage the public to replicate these routes and share their unique GPS drawings. Five participants will be selected as winners in this competition.

Environmental sustainability is also a key focus. A digital smartphone game will be introduced to motivate players to protect endangered animals and reduce their carbon footprint. Players can register on the designated RTA microsite and follow clues to locate virtual treasures, symbolizing the rescue of threatened species. Those who assist these animals will have the opportunity to win prizes from RTA