Dubai New Year Parking Fee 2026: Is Public Parking Free on New Year’s Day?

However, New Year parking in Dubai isn’t entirely unrestricted. While most RTA public parking zones are free, a few locations continue to follow regular parking rules. Knowing these exceptions can help you avoid an unexpected fine on the first day of the year.

Is Public Parking Free on New Year’s Day in Dubai? 

Yes, public parking in Dubai will be free on New Year’s Day — Thursday, January 1, 2026 — as confirmed by Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA). The exemption applies across RTA-managed public parking zones for the entire day. If you park in standard, on-street RTA zones on January 1, you won’t need to pay parking fees.

Which Parking Areas are NOT Free on New Year’s Day in Dubai?

While free public parking for New Year’s Day applies across most of Dubai, the RTA has clearly stated that two types of parking locations remain paid on January 1, 2026. These exceptions are important, and they are where most New Year parking fines usually occur.

🚫 Parking Locations That Are Still Paid on January 1, 2026

1. Multi-Storey Parking Facilities: All multi-storey car parks in Dubai continue to operate under regular parking tariffs on New Year’s Day. These facilities, not eligible for the public holiday exemption, follow their normal hourly or daily pricing. Always check signage or the RTA parking app before leaving your vehicle.
2. Al Khail Gate Parking – Zone N-365: Al Khail Gate (Parking Zone N-365) remains a 24×7 paid parking zone, even on public holidays such as New Year’s Day. This zone follows a continuous paid model and is not affected by holiday exemptions. If you park here on January 1, standard parking charges apply, just like any regular day.

🟨 Did You Know? Dubai’s revised parking system now combines zone codes + peak pricing + daily caps, replacing the older flat-rate model. This is why checking the signboard before parking is more important, especially on holidays.

Dubai New Year Parking Price: What You’ll Actually Pay on January 1, 2026?

Parking charges in Dubai in the New Year depend entirely on the zone you park in. By the end of 2025, Dubai completed a major parking overhaul, introducing revised tariffs across 17 key areas. Each area has clearly defined prices, timings, and daily caps. These tariffs apply wherever parking is chargeable, including locations that remain paid on New Year’s Day and the ones displayed on official Parkin/RTA signboards across Dubai.

💰 Dubai Parking Prices by Zone (Official Tariffs)

Area / Zone Code	Parking Charges	Timing	Daily Cap / Notes
Al Sufouh 2 (Zone F)	AED 2 (30 min), AED 4/hour	As per signage	Up to AED 32 for 8 hours or full day
W Zones (Al Karama, Al Qusais 1, Dubai Maritime City, Al Kifaf)	AED 4/hour	All day	No free peak periods
WP Zones	AED 4/hour (off-peak), AED 6/hour (peak)	Peak hours apply	Variable pricing introduced
Mirdif (Zones 251C & 251D)	AED 2/hour (off-peak), AED 4/hour (peak)	8 am – 10 pm (Mon–Sat)	Free on Sundays & public holidays
Al Jaddaf (Zones 326C & 326D)	AED 2–4/hour (variable)	Defined peak periods	Covers on-street & off-street
Gate Avenue – Al Khail (Zone 365N)	AED 4/hour or AED 30/day	24×7 paid zone	Paid even on public holidays
Wasl Green Park (Zone 614W)	AED 4/hour	24×7	No holiday exemption
Dubai Studio City / Outsource City / DIAC / Sports City	Variable	As per zone	Daily caps: AED 20–36

🟦 What This Means for New Year’s Day Parking? On January 1, 2026 — If you park in zones that remain chargeable, the above tariffs apply exactly as listed Daily caps in many areas help limit total cost even for longer stays Zone signage is legally binding — not assumptions about public holidays

24×7 Paid Parking Zones in Dubai — What are the Charges on New Year’s Day?

Not all parking in Dubai switches off for public holidays. As part of Dubai’s parking overhaul completed in 2025, several locations now operate as 24×7 paid parking zones. This means charges apply at all times — including New Year’s Day.

These zones were introduced to manage congestion in high-demand residential, commercial, and mixed-use areas, where unrestricted free parking would quickly lead to space shortages.

💰 Official 24×7 Paid Parking Zones in Dubai (As of 2026)

Area	Zone Code	Parking Charges	Key Rule
Gate Avenue – Al Khail	365N	AED 4 per hour or AED 30 per day	Paid 24×7, even on public holidays
Wasl Green Park Community	614W	AED 4 per hour	Paid 24×7
Select mixed-use & residential hubs	Zone-specific	As per signage	No holiday exemption

How to Check if Your Parking is Free or Paid on New Year’s Day in Dubai?

With Dubai’s expanded parking zones and revised tariffs, the fastest way to confirm New Year parking rules is not a news article. Rather, it’s the parking signboard where you stop. In 2026, RTA and Parkin rely heavily on zone codes and on-site signage to communicate whether parking is chargeable, even on public holidays.

Here’s how drivers can check within seconds, without guessing.

Step 1: Look for the Parking Zone Code on the Signboard

Every public parking area in Dubai now displays a zone code at eye level. This code determines —

1. Whether parking is chargeable
2. Applicable timings
3. Hourly price or daily cap
4. Public holiday exemptions (if any)

Common examples you may see:

1. F, W, WP, T, S (standard paid zones)
2. 365N (24-hour paid zone)
3. Residential or mixed-use codes introduced in 2025

If a zone code is visible, the rules printed below it apply — even on New Year’s Day.

Step 2: Read the Timing Line (This is Where Most People Slip Up)

Many zones clearly mention operating hours, such as —

1. “Mon–Sat, 8 am – 10 pm”
2. “24×7”
3. “Peak / Off-Peak applicable”

📋 Common Signboard Indicators and What They Mean

Signboard Detail	What It Tells You
24×7 Paid Parking	Charges apply every day, including New Year
Mon–Sat timings listed	Sundays & public holidays may be free
Peak / Off-Peak mentioned	Variable pricing applies
Daily cap mentioned	Charges stop after a maximum amount
Zone code highlighted	Use this code to verify rules

Step 3: Use Official RTA or Parking Channels (Optional but Helpful)

If you’re unsure after reading the signboard, you can cross-check using:

1. RTA Dubai app
2. DubaiNow
3. Parkin app or website

These platforms reflect the same zone rules shown on signage, including holiday applicability.

🟨 Did You Know? After the 2025 parking overhaul, Dubai introduced clearer signboards and larger zone markings to reduce confusion. Authorities have repeatedly stated that signage takes priority over assumptions about free parking on holidays.

When Do Parking Fees Resume After the New Year in Dubai?

One of the most common follow-up questions after checking free New Year parking in Dubai is this: when do parking charges start again? The answer is clearly defined by Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) and applies consistently across the city. As per official RTA announcements, public parking fees in Dubai resume on Friday, January 2, 2026. This comes after the one-day exemption on New Year’s Day. From this date onward, all standard parking tariffs apply as per the zone code and signage.

Date	Parking Status
December 31, 2025 (New Year’s Eve)	Normal parking charges apply
January 1, 2026 (New Year’s Day)	Public parking free (eligible zones only)
January 2, 2026 onwards	Regular parking fees resume

🟨 Important Reminder for Early Morning Parkers! If your vehicle is parked overnight during the New Year holiday, parking charges begin as soon as the chargeable period starts on January 2, based on the zone’s operating hours. Always check the signboard to avoid fines.

Common New Year Parking Mistakes in Dubai

Even with free New Year parking in Dubai, many drivers end up paying fines. This happens not because parking isn’t free, but because small rules are overlooked. Here are 5 common New Year parking mistakes in Dubai that you should avoid.

1. Many residential and mixed-use neighbourhoods now fall under new parking zones introduced in 2025. Even on New Year’s Day, Dubai New Year parking rules may still apply in these areas if the zone is designed for demand management.
2. Drivers often assume public holidays cancel peak pricing. In reality, some Dubai parking zones use peak and off-peak tariffs. Thus, New Year parking prices in Dubai can still change based on time of day, as stated on signboards.
3. Leaving a car parked from December 31 to January 2 is a common mistake. Dubai RTA parking free New Year applies only on January 1. Charges resume the following day based on zone timings.
4. Parking near mosques follows special MP and M zone rules, with free periods limited to prayer times only. Outside those windows, normal parking charges apply — even on New Year’s Day.
5. The most common mistake is assuming parking rules apply citywide. New year parking in Dubai depends on zone codes, timings, and signage, not on the holiday itself. If it’s written on the board, it’s enforceable.

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