Get ready for a great, trouble free, joyous holiday weekend in the city! The Roads and Transport Authority, or RTA, has officially announced major modifications to all public service schedules to prepare for the magnificent Eid Al Adha 1447 AH celebrations in 2026. From Monday, May 25 to Friday, May 29, free public parking will be available across the emirate and will be a huge help to residents and tourists. Similarly accurate amended operating hours are also in place for the Dubai Metro, Dubai Tram and the extensive public bus network to keep the city running smoothly. Major route changes have also been announced, including the temporary suspension of the E100 bus service from May 23 to May 31. This long holiday weekend is quite busy, therefore now knowing the correct transit times is a must for arranging your family outings. To get the most out of the Christmas season without any travel worries, be sure to read our detailed tips completely.
Take Advantage of Free Public Parking Around Town
One of the best gifts for anybody who drives their own car throughout the city is the offer of free public parking for the Christmas holidays. All normal public street parking zones will be free from Monday, May 25 through Friday, May 29, official confirmation from the Roads and Transport Authority said. This service is especially designed for families to get together for festive meals and nice cultural activities without worrying about getting parking charges and running out. (Just bear in mind that this great free time does not include the vast multi-story parking lots that are scattered across the emirate.) These specific multi-story buildings will remain fully functioning and will be subject to the same rates. Therefore, if you prefer to park your vehicle safely within these covered structures, you will still need to pay your regular parking charges in AED (Dirhams).
View this post on Instagram
New Timetables for Dubai Metro & Tram
The Dubai Metro Red and Green Lines will both operate on significantly extended holiday schedules, as will the Dubai Tram, to easily cope with the huge increase in late-night parties and happy family gatherings. The wonderful trains for the Metro system will start running at five a.m. on Saturday mornings and will run until one a.m. on Sunday mornings. On Sundays the service begins a little later, at eight o’clock in the morning, although it still goes on until one. The metro will operate five a.m. to one a.m. the following day on a regular basis the rest of the busy week, Monday through Saturday. Likewise, Dubai Tram services have been beautifully modernised to provide smooth connections. The tram will run from six to one in the morning on Saturdays, and from nine to one in the morning on Sundays. From Monday to Saturday, regular weekdays, tram customers may safely travel from six till one in the morning.
Major RTA Bus Route Changes and S’hail App
The train systems are running on extremely long hours but there are also big changes to the intercity bus routes which clearly you need to be aware of. If you plan to go to see your loved ones in other emirates, be informed that the popular Bus Route E100 will not be operating from the Al Ghubaiba Bus Station from May 23 to May 31. This service is temporarily suspended to appropriately cope with the huge number of vacation travel in that area. All tourists to Abu Dhabi are strongly advised to use the alternative Bus Route E101, leaving conveniently from the well-known Ibn Battuta Bus Station, rather than travelling to Al Ghubaiba. Passengers are also highly recommended to download the smart S’hail application and check it often for any additional local bus travels around the city. The incredible official app that provides very accurate and constantly updated bus timings for the whole holiday season.
Making the Long Weekend easy and happy
The glorious Eid Al Adha long weekend is a really special opportunity to create beautiful memories with your best friends and family. “The Roads and transit Authority is working really hard to make sure that your holiday travel is as easy and safe as possible by providing these exceptionally thorough transit timetables and great free parking schemes. If you know exactly when the trains come, where to catch your interstate bus and how to stash your money for street parking safely, you will have a lot of peace of mind. Now you can go out and enjoy the magnificent decorations, the wonderful culinary choices and the distinct cultural events all throughout the city with complete confidence. “Plan your exciting trips ahead, remember to check the smart transport apps for real-time updates and have a fabulous and very peaceful holiday celebration.”
