Dolan, who has arrived at BT Sport Cardiff Arms Park following his exploits with the USA Eagles at the Rugby World Cup, is named at blindside flanker as one of four changes made to the team by Head Coach Danny Wilson.
Josh Navidi returns to captain the team at Number Eight with Josh Turnbull moving across the back row to openside.
Aled Summerhill, fresh from signing a new long-term deal with Cardiff Blues this week, is recalled on the wing and the final change sees a first start of the season for centre Adam Thomas.
Talented Wales Under-20 fly half Jarrod Evans could make his Cardiff Blues after being named on the bench and he is joined by lock Chris Dicomidis who is also looking for his first appearance of the season.
Jarrad Hoeata, Kristian Dacey, Manoa Vosawai, Gavin Evans, Cory Allen, Tom James and Ellis Jenkins miss the game through injury.
Wilson said: “We played some really good rugby last week at Munster and got ourselves in a positon to get a result with ten minutes to go. We’ve now to build on that, our attacking shape has been good, and look to nail down these close games.
“Ulster have a fantastic squad with the likes of Nick Williams, Luke Marshall and Paddy Jackson – from one to 15 they have real quality. They are at home, which is where they are strong and it’s a great venue to go and play rugby.
“We are now a couple of months into me learning about this squad and developing a style of play, environment and culture to take Cardiff Blues forward,” he added.
“Results will come as a result of us improving what we do here. We have been pleased with the steps we have taken so far and we have gone very close to away wins at Leinster, Munster and Connacht.
“We couldn’t have started the season with tougher fixtures with the four Irish provinces away from home and then Zebre away from home.
“We have seen flashes of what we are capable of already, but this is a journey we are all in together and we have got to put the foundations in place now to build for results in the future.”
Cardiff Blues: 15 Dan Fish, 14 Aled Summerhill, 13 Tom Isaacs, 12 Adam Thomas, 11 Richard Smith, 10 Rhys Patchell, 9 Tavis Knoyle; 1 Sam Hobbs, 2 Matthew Rees, 3 Craig Mitchell, 4 Lou Reed, 5 James Down, 6 Cam Dolan, 7 Josh Turnbull, 8 Josh Navidi (c)
Replacements: 16 Ethan Lewis, 17 Thomas Davies, 18 Taufa’ao Filise, 19 Chris Dicomidis, 20 Macauley Cook, 21 Lewis Jones, 22 Jarrod Evans, 23 Garyn Smith