Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has confirmed the operating hours for various public services during the New Year holiday on January 1, 2026. The announcement includes details about free public parking, operating hours for public transport, and the closure of certain service centres.
Public parking free of charge
RTA confirmed that all public parking in Dubai will be free of charge on New Year’s Day, except for multi-storey parking facilities and the Al Khail Gate N-365 area. Paid parking services will resume on January 2, 2026.
The Dubai Metro, including both the Red and Green lines, will operate from midnight on January 1 until 11:59 PM. Tram services will run from midnight until 1:00 AM on January 2, 2026.
Public bus services, including changes to routes, can be tracked using the S’hail app. Notably, Bus Route E100 from Al Ghubaiba Station will not operate from the afternoon of December 31, 2025, until January 4, 2026. However, passengers can use Route E101 from Ibn Battuta Station to Abu Dhabi during this period.
All RTA Customer Happiness Centres will be closed on January 1, 2026, though Smart Customer Happiness Areas will remain open 24/7 at Al Barsha, Al Twar, Al Kifaf, and RTA headquarters.
Vehicle testing services and service provider centres will also be closed, reopening on January 2, 2026. For those using marine transport, RTA advises passengers to check the official website for specific operating hours on January 1, 2026.
tanvir@dubainewsweek.com
