Commuters in Dubai will see changes to parking rules and transport operations as the city adjusts services for the New Year break, with free public parking set to take effect on the first day of 2026.
According to the Roads and Transport Authority, all public parking zones across Dubai will be free of charge on January 1. The exemption does not cover multi-storey parking facilities or the Al Khail Gate N-365 area. Standard parking fees will be reinstated the following day, January 2.
The authority has also confirmed temporary closures of several in-person service locations. All Customer Happiness Centres will be shut on New Year’s Day, while service provider centres, including vehicle testing facilities, will suspend operations for the same period before reopening on January 2 under their usual schedules.
Public transport services will operate under modified hours. Dubai Metro trains on both the Red and Green Lines will run from 5am until 11.59pm on December 31, and from midnight through 11.59pm on January 1. Dubai Tram services will operate from 6am to 11.59pm on December 31, and from midnight until 1am on January 1.
Bus passengers are advised to consult updated timetables via the S’hail app. Intercity Route E100 will be suspended from Al Ghubaiba Bus Station starting the afternoon of December 31, with the final departure from Abu Dhabi at noon and from Al Ghubaiba at 2pm. The route will resume service on January 4. During the suspension, travellers heading to Abu Dhabi are encouraged to use Route E101 from Ibn Battuta Bus Station, while Route E102 will continue operating from Ibn Battuta from 2pm on December 31 until the end of the day.
Marine transport users are advised to check the RTA’s official website for specific operating hours during the holiday period.
While most physical service centres will be closed, Smart Customer Happiness Areas in Al Barsha, Al Twar, Al Kifaf and at RTA headquarters will remain accessible around the clock, allowing customers to complete essential transactions without interruption.
