On Friday, August 28, Dubai offered free public parking across the emirate to mark the Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) birthday holiday. Paid parking resumed on Saturday, August 29, while multi-storey parking facilities continued to operate at their usual rates.
For residents and visitors, the change was simple: most public parking spaces were free for the day, giving motorists a welcome break from parking fees during the public holiday.
The free parking applied to open-air parking bays, street parking meters and surface lots across Dubai. However, multi-storey parking facilities continued to charge their usual fees.
Paid parking resumed on Saturday, August 29.
A Public Holiday — Without the City Going Offline
The free parking was only one part of the wider operation.
On August 28:
Dubai Metro services ran from 5am until 1am on both the Red and Green Lines.
Dubai Tram services began at 6am.
Bus passengers were directed to updated schedules through the S’hail app.
Selected RTA Customer Happiness Centres remained open, including Umm Ramool, Deira, Al Barsha, Al Twar, Al Kifaf and the RTA Head Office.
Selected vehicle testing centres continued operating into the afternoon and evening.
Bus route E100 was rerouted, with Abu Dhabi-bound passengers directed to the E101 from Ibn Battuta.
On paper, these are operational details.
In practice, they tell you something much bigger about how Dubai functions.
A public holiday here does not necessarily mean the city switches off. Instead, services are adjusted, alternatives are provided and infrastructure continues operating around residents’ needs.
That operational consistency matters far more than it might initially appear.
Free Public Parking Across Dubai
The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) announced that public parking would be free on Friday, August 28, in observance of the Prophet Muhammad’s (PBUH) birthday.
The exemption covered most public parking spaces throughout Dubai.
However, motorists using multi-storey parking facilities still had to pay the applicable charges.
The arrangement gave residents more flexibility when travelling around the emirate during the holiday, particularly in busy areas where parking can normally be difficult to find.
Drivers were reminded that normal parking fees would return on Saturday, August 29.
Dubai Metro Continued Running Through the Holiday
Public transport also remained operational throughout the holiday.
Dubai Metro services on both the Red and Green Lines operated from 5am until 1am, allowing residents to travel across the city from early morning until after midnight.
For those planning a day out, the extended operating hours meant that popular destinations, shopping areas, residential communities and major transport hubs remained accessible throughout the holiday.
Dubai Tram services began at 6am, providing another option for residents travelling through areas connected to the tram network.
Bus Services Continued With Schedule Changes
Dubai’s bus network also remained operational, although some services were adjusted for the holiday.
Passengers were advised to check updated schedules through the S’hail app before travelling.
One notable change affected the E100 bus route, which was rerouted during the holiday period.
Passengers travelling towards Abu Dhabi were directed to use the E101 service from Ibn Battuta instead.
For regular public transport users, checking the route before leaving was therefore particularly important.
Some RTA Centres Remained Open
Although it was a public holiday, several RTA Customer Happiness Centres continued providing services.
The centres that remained open included:
Umm Ramool
Deira
Al Barsha
Al Twar
Al Kifaf
RTA Head Office
This meant that residents who needed certain RTA services did not necessarily have to wait until the holiday ended.
Selected vehicle testing centres also remained operational during the afternoon and evening, providing continued access to essential vehicle-related services.
What Was Open and What Was Free?
For anyone moving around Dubai during the holiday, the key points were straightforward.
Free:
Public parking in open-air areas
Street parking
Surface parking lots
Paid as usual:
Multi-storey parking facilities
Public transport:
Dubai Metro operated from 5am to 1am
Dubai Tram operated from 6am
Bus services operated with some route and schedule adjustments
Selected services:
Several RTA Customer Happiness Centres remained open
Selected vehicle testing centres continued operating
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