Dubai: RTA announces service timings for New Year 2026 holiday
Free public parking announced with select locations excluded
DUBAI – The Roads and Transport Authority has announced the operating hours for all services during the New Year holiday on Thursday, 1 January 2026.
The schedule covers Customer Happiness Centres, paid public parking, public bus services, Dubai Metro and Tram operations, marine transport services, and vehicle testing centres.
Customer Happiness Centres
All RTA Customer Happiness Centres will remain closed on 1 January 2026. However, Smart Customer Happiness Areas at Al Barsha, Al Twar, Al Kifaf and the RTA headquarters will continue operating around the clock, providing 24-hour services as usual.
Service provider centres for vehicle testing will also be closed during the New Year holiday. Regular operations will resume on Friday, 2 January 2026, in line with approved schedules.
Dubai Metro
Dubai Metro services on both the Red and Green Lines will operate from 5:00 am to 11:59 pm on Wednesday, 31 December 2025. On Thursday, 1 January 2026, Metro services will run from 12:00 midnight until 11:59 pm across all stations.
Dubai Tram
Dubai Tram services will operate from 6:00 am to 11:59 pm on Wednesday, 31 December 2025. Services will continue from 12:00 midnight until 1:00 am on Thursday, 1 January 2026.
Public bus
Public bus users are advised to check schedule updates through the S’hail application.
To support mobility during New Year’s Eve celebrations, the RTA will provide free bus services connecting the Downtown Dubai celebration area with Dubai Metro stations and taxi parking zones. These buses will operate from Sheikh Zayed Road and the Financial Centre lower deck.
Bus Route E100 will not operate from Al Ghubaiba Bus Station starting from the afternoon of 31 December. The final trip will depart at 12:00 noon from Abu Dhabi and at 2:00 pm from Al Ghubaiba, with services suspended until 4 January 2026.
Passengers travelling to Abu Dhabi during this period are advised to use Bus Route E101 from Ibn Battuta Bus Station. Bus Route E102 will operate from Ibn Battuta Bus Station on 31 December from 2:00 pm until the end of the day.
Marine transport
Marine transport users are encouraged to check the official RTA website for updated operating hours during the New Year holiday.
Public parking
Public parking across Dubai will be free of charge on Thursday, 1 January 2026, excluding multi-storey parking facilities and Al Khail Gate N-365. Regular parking fees will resume on Friday, 2 January 2026.