Free parking, longer metro hours: Dubai unveils Islamic New Year 2026 service plan
RTA announces changes across transport services and customer centres
DUBAI – Dubai residents will receive free public parking on Monday, June 15, 2026, as part of the Hijri New Year 1448 public holiday arrangements, the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) announced today.
The free parking facility will apply across Dubai except multi-storey parking facilities, with normal parking charges resuming on Tuesday, June 16. The authority has also announced adjusted timings for public transport services, customer centres and vehicle testing facilities during the holiday.
Both the Dubai Metro Red and Green Lines will operate with extended hours on June 15, running from 5am until midnight. Dubai Tram services will also be available for longer hours, operating from 5am until 1am.
Transport changes
The RTA has outlined temporary changes to public bus services during the holiday period. Bus Route E100, which operates between Al Ghubaiba Bus Station and Abu Dhabi, will remain suspended from Saturday, June 13, until Monday, June 15.
أعلنت #هيئة_الطرق_و_المواصلات في دبي عن مواعيد العمل في جميع خدماتها خلال عطلة رأس السنة الهجرية 1448. وتشمل مراكز إسعاد المتعاملين، ومواقف المركبات الخاضعة للتعرفة، وحافلات المواصلات العامة، ومترو وترام دبي، ووسائل النقل البحري، ومراكز مزودي الخدمة (الفحص الفني للمركبات).… pic.twitter.com/NRxtkvTDuI
— RTA (@rta_dubai) June 13, 2026
Passengers travelling between Dubai and Abu Dhabi during this period are advised to use Route E101 from Ibn Battuta Bus Station instead. Commuters can check updated bus schedules and service information through the S’hail app.
Marine transport services will also follow adjusted schedules during the holiday, with passengers encouraged to check the latest timings through RTA’s official communication channels.
Service updates
RTA Customer Happiness Centres will remain closed on Monday, June 15. However, customers will continue to access selected services through the Umm Ramool centre and smart kiosks located in Deira, Al Barsha, Al Tawar, Al Kifaf and RTA Headquarters, which will operate around the clock.
All vehicle testing service provider centres will also be closed on the public holiday and will resume normal operations on Tuesday, June 16.
The holiday follows an announcement by the UAE’s Federal Authority for Government Human Resources and the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation confirming June 15 as an official break for federal government entities and private sector companies for the Hijri New Year.
Schools, universities and public and private early childhood centres will also observe the holiday. The Islamic New Year marks the start of the Hijri lunar calendar and begins on the first day of Muharram, with the date determined through official moon-sighting observations.