Travelling during the Eid Al Adha holidays? Check the latest Dubai Metro operating hours, complimentary parking availability, and key transportation information to help make your holiday journeys smoother and more convenient.
Planning to travel during Eid Al Adha? Here’s a guide to Dubai Metro schedules, free parking details, and important transport updates.
As Dubai gets ready for the Eid Al Adha holiday period, transport authorities across the emirate have introduced a range of temporary service arrangements aimed at ensuring smooth movement for both residents and tourists during the celebrations. With many people expected to travel across the city for family gatherings, leisure activities, shopping, and holiday events, officials have outlined updated schedules and operational plans for several public transport services and facilities.
The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) announced revised operating hours and holiday-related adjustments covering multiple sectors of the city’s transportation network. These include public parking services, Dubai Metro and Tram schedules, public bus operations, marine transport services, Customer Happiness Centres, and vehicle testing centres run by approved service providers.
The authority said the special arrangements are intended to help commuters plan their journeys more efficiently during the festive break while also reducing congestion at major transport hubs and busy public areas. As Eid Al Adha is one of the busiest holiday periods in the UAE, authorities expect increased movement across residential communities, shopping destinations, waterfront locations, and tourist attractions throughout Dubai.
According to the announced plan, paid parking timings across the city will be adjusted for the holiday period. Certain parking zones are expected to offer free parking during designated dates, allowing residents and visitors greater convenience while attending Eid gatherings or visiting popular locations. Multi-level parking terminals, however, may continue operating under their regular paid schedules.
In addition to parking updates, the RTA has also confirmed modified timings for Customer Happiness Centres. While some centres may remain temporarily closed during official holiday days, smart and digital services will continue to operate online to ensure residents can complete essential transactions without interruption. Authorities encouraged customers to use electronic platforms whenever possible to avoid unnecessary travel and waiting times during the holidays.
Public transportation services, including buses, metro lines, and trams, are also set to follow revised operating schedules to accommodate higher passenger demand. Dubai Metro services are expected to run for extended hours during parts of the Eid holiday to support late-night travel and ease crowd movement across key areas of the city. Dubai Tram operations will similarly follow special holiday timings coordinated with metro schedules to provide smoother connectivity for passengers.
The public bus network will continue operating across different routes in Dubai, although some schedules and frequencies may be adjusted depending on demand and traffic conditions. Authorities advised passengers to check official transport platforms for the latest route information and departure timings before beginning their journeys.
Marine transport services, including abras, water taxis, and ferries, are also included within the holiday operating plan. Updated schedules have been arranged to support increased movement in waterfront areas and tourist destinations, particularly during evening hours when many families and visitors are expected to travel for leisure activities and celebrations.
Vehicle testing centres operated through RTA service providers will also observe revised working hours during the Eid break. Some centres may close temporarily during official public holidays before resuming regular operations afterward. Residents planning vehicle-related transactions or testing appointments have been advised to confirm timings in advance.
Authorities stated that the overall objective of these transport measures is to maintain smooth mobility across Dubai throughout the Eid holiday period. By coordinating schedules across multiple transport sectors, officials aim to minimize inconvenience for commuters while ensuring public services continue operating efficiently during one of the busiest travel periods of the year.
Residents and tourists have also been encouraged to use public transport whenever possible to help reduce road congestion around shopping malls, entertainment venues, mosques, and tourist attractions that typically experience heavy traffic during Eid celebrations. Officials highlighted that Dubai’s integrated transport network plays a key role in supporting the movement of millions of passengers during major holidays and events.
The Eid Al Adha break traditionally sees increased travel activity as families gather for celebrations, residents visit relatives and friends, and tourists explore different parts of the emirate. Because of this, transport authorities regularly introduce temporary operational changes to improve accessibility and maintain service reliability across the city.
Officials further noted that digital platforms and smart applications remain available throughout the holiday period, allowing residents to access transport updates, parking information, metro timings, and customer services remotely. These platforms are expected to help reduce crowding at service centres while giving commuters quick access to real-time information.
As preparations continue across Dubai ahead of Eid Al Adha, the updated transport arrangements form part of broader efforts by city authorities to ensure residents and visitors can enjoy the holiday comfortably and conveniently. With special schedules now in place for parking, public transport, marine services, and customer centres, commuters are being encouraged to plan ahead and stay informed about the latest operational updates before travelling during the festive period.
Public parking
Parking across all public areas will be complimentary between May 25 and May 29, 2026, while multi-level parking facilities will remain chargeable.
Dubai Metro
Dubai’s Metro network, including both the Red and Green Lines, will follow extended operating schedules during the holiday period to support increased passenger movement across the city. According to the announced timings, metro services on Saturdays will begin at 5am and continue running until 1am the following day. On Sundays, trains will operate from 8am until 1am after midnight, while from Monday through Saturday, commuters can expect services to remain available from 5am until 1am the next day.
The revised timings are intended to provide greater flexibility for residents and visitors travelling during the busy Eid holiday period, when shopping centres, tourist attractions, airports, and entertainment venues typically experience higher footfall. Authorities expect the extended hours to help ease congestion on major roads and improve connectivity between different parts of Dubai.
For passengers heading to Dubai International Airport, the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has strongly recommended using the Dubai Metro as a convenient and efficient transport option. Travellers flying during the holiday rush are being advised to take advantage of direct metro access to Airport Terminal 1 and Airport Terminal 3 stations, which are connected to the airport network.
The RTA noted that using the metro can help passengers avoid heavy traffic and reduce travel delays commonly experienced during peak holiday periods. With large numbers of residents and tourists expected to travel during Eid Al Adha, public transport is being promoted as a smoother and more reliable alternative to private vehicles and taxis.
Authorities also encouraged passengers to plan their journeys in advance, especially those travelling to and from the airport with luggage or during late-night hours. The extended metro schedule is designed to support both domestic commuters and international travellers by offering longer service hours and easier access to key locations throughout the emirate.
Dubai Metro remains one of the city’s most widely used transport systems, connecting residential districts, business hubs, shopping destinations, and major landmarks. During festive seasons and public holidays, metro services often see a significant increase in passenger numbers, prompting transport authorities to introduce longer operating hours and additional travel arrangements to maintain efficient movement across the network.
Dubai Bus
The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has introduced temporary adjustments to several intercity bus services ahead of the Eid Al Adha holiday period, with the updated arrangements remaining in effect from May 23 to May 31, 2026.
According to the authority, Bus Route E100 will be suspended from Al Ghubaiba Bus Station throughout this period. Passengers planning to travel to Abu Dhabi have instead been advised to use the E101 service, which will continue operating from Ibn Battuta Bus Station.
In addition, Route E102 will run only between Al Jafiliya Station and Zayed International Airport during the holiday schedule. The service will not stop at Ibn Battuta Station or Musaffah Shabiya Station until regular operations resume.
The RTA has encouraged commuters to review updated schedules and route changes before travelling, as bus timings may vary during the Eid holiday period. Passengers are being advised to use the S’hail application for the latest information on bus services, trip planning, route updates, and travel timings to avoid inconvenience during the festive break.
Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has announced a series of operational updates for public transport services and customer facilities during the Eid Al Adha holiday period, including revised schedules for Dubai Tram services, Customer Happiness Centres, vehicle testing centres, and marine transport operations.
As part of the holiday arrangements, Dubai Tram services will continue operating with extended timings to support increased passenger movement across the city during the festive break. According to the announced schedule, tram services on Saturdays will begin at 6am and continue running until 1am the following day. On Sundays, operations will start slightly later at 9am and remain available until 1am after midnight. From Monday through Saturday, passengers will be able to use tram services from 6am until 1am the next day.
The revised tram schedule is intended to help residents and visitors move conveniently between major residential communities, commercial districts, and tourist destinations during one of the busiest travel periods of the year. Authorities expect higher passenger numbers during Eid Al Adha as families attend gatherings, visit shopping centres, and participate in holiday activities across Dubai.
The tram network, which connects with the Dubai Metro and other transport services, is expected to play an important role in easing traffic congestion in busy areas such as Dubai Marina, Jumeirah Beach Residence, and surrounding waterfront destinations. Transport officials have encouraged commuters to make use of public transport services whenever possible to avoid delays on major roads during the holiday rush.
In addition to transport updates, the RTA has also confirmed temporary changes to the operation of its Customer Happiness Centres during the Eid break. All regular Customer Happiness Centres across Dubai will remain closed throughout the official holiday period. However, a number of essential customer support facilities will continue operating around the clock to ensure residents can still access key services when needed.
The Customer Happiness Centre located in Umm Ramool will continue functioning as usual on a 24-hour basis during the holiday. Alongside this, several Smart Kiosks positioned across the city will also remain operational 24×7. These kiosks are available in locations including Deira, Al Barsha, Al Tawar, Al Kifaf, and the RTA Headquarters.
Authorities stated that these self-service kiosks are designed to help customers complete important transactions independently and conveniently without needing to visit physical service centres. Residents can use the kiosks for a range of services, including payments, inquiries, and transport-related procedures during the Eid holidays.
The decision to maintain smart service availability throughout the break reflects Dubai’s ongoing focus on digital accessibility and uninterrupted public services, even during official holidays. Officials encouraged customers to make use of smart platforms and online services to minimize unnecessary travel and reduce waiting times during the busy festive period.
The RTA has also announced holiday schedules for Service Provider Centres responsible for vehicle testing across Dubai. According to the authority, the Eid Al Adha holiday for vehicle testing centres will begin on Tuesday, May 26, and continue until Friday, May 29, 2026. During this period, many centres will suspend regular operations in observance of the holiday.
Normal working hours at these centres are scheduled to resume on Saturday, May 30, based on approved operational timings. Residents planning vehicle inspections, renewals, or related procedures have been advised to arrange appointments accordingly and avoid last-minute visits before the holiday closure begins.
Officials noted that demand for vehicle testing services often increases before long public holidays, making advance planning important for customers wishing to complete transactions smoothly. Residents have also been encouraged to check official schedules and service availability through digital channels before travelling to testing centres.
Alongside land transport services, the RTA has issued guidance regarding marine transport operations during the Eid Al Adha holiday. Updated schedules for marine transport services, including abras, ferries, and water taxis, will be available through official RTA channels.
Customers seeking information about marine transport timings during the holiday have been advised to access the dedicated online platform provided by the authority. The RTA has shared a QR code link that allows passengers to view detailed schedules and service updates for different marine transport routes operating during Eid.
Marine transport services remain a popular option for residents and tourists visiting waterfront areas, traditional markets, and leisure destinations during public holidays. Authorities expect increased activity in areas surrounding Dubai Creek, Marina districts, and tourist hubs during the Eid celebrations.
The overall holiday transport plan introduced by the RTA is aimed at maintaining smooth mobility across Dubai while accommodating the higher number of commuters expected during Eid Al Adha. With updated schedules in place for trams, vehicle testing centres, customer service facilities, and marine transport systems, officials are encouraging residents and visitors to plan their travel in advance and stay informed through official channels.
The authority also highlighted the importance of digital tools such as mobile applications, online portals, and smart kiosks in helping commuters access transport information and complete services more efficiently during the holiday period. By expanding access to automated systems and extending transport operating hours, the RTA aims to provide greater convenience and flexibility for the public throughout the celebrations.
As Dubai prepares for the Eid holiday, the coordinated transport arrangements form part of wider efforts to support residents, tourists, and businesses during one of the most active periods of the year. Public transport services, customer support systems, and travel infrastructure are expected to play a central role in ensuring safe and convenient movement across the emirate during the festive season.
