Dubai's New Parking Zones and Rates Explained
Changes in Dubai Parking System: New Rates and Zones from 2025
Dubai, known for its modern infrastructure and innovation, is once again introducing changes to its parking system. Parkin PJSC, the city's largest paid parking operator, announced that from April 2025, a new variable tariff will be implemented for parking. This change will affect not only rates but also the designation of parking zones, causing some confusion among local residents and tourists for the time being.
What Changes in the Parking Zones?
Parkin has already begun setting up new parking signs in various commercial and residential areas of the city. The changes include the former zones A, B, C, and D now being designated with AP, BP, CP, and DP codes. The zones will still be divided into standard and premium parking spaces, each with different tariffs. While these changes may seem a bit confusing at first, Parkin states that the rates remain unchanged for now. Users have been notified through the app that zone codes have been updated, but tariffs have not changed.
Other areas of the city, such as Jumeirah Lakes Towers (JLT), Knowledge Village, Dubai Media City, the Burj Khalifa area, or Dubai Silicon Oasis, have additional special parking zones, coded E, I, J, K, L, F, G, H, and X. In these zones, parking rates can vary, and during events, fees can be as high as 25 dirhams per hour.
Variable Tariff: Why and How?
The aim of introducing a variable tariff is to make the parking system more efficient and reduce traffic congestion during peak hours. From April 2025, parking fees will vary at different times of the day. During peak hours, such as from 8 to 10 a.m. and 4 to 8 p.m., higher rates will apply. For instance, in a residential area like Al Barsha (373CP code), one hour of parking will cost 6 dirhams during peak times, while outside peak times it will cost only 2 dirhams.
The introduction of variable tariffs is not entirely new to Dubai. Salik, the city’s electronic toll system, has previously introduced a similar system with higher fees during peak congestion periods.
Premium Parking Spaces: Where and Why?
Premium parking spaces will be available in areas with high demand for parking, such as Downtown Dubai, Business Bay, or the commercial districts of Deira and Bur Dubai. The parking fee in these areas will be 6 dirhams per hour, except on Sundays and public holidays when parking is free. The selection of premium parking spaces was driven by three main factors: proximity to public transportation options (such as metro stations within 500 meters), high parking occupancy during peak hours, and high traffic density and congestion.
According to Parkin's estimates, approximately 35% of the city's 184,000 parking spaces will fall into the premium category, which means higher rates will apply in these locations.
What About Seasonal Passes?
Initially, some uncertainty was felt among those with seasonal parking passes. Many drivers were afraid that their passes would become invalid with the introduction of new zone codes. However, Parkin stated that seasonal passes will remain valid and they do not plan to raise prices in this regard. Nonetheless, some drivers choose to pay for parking out of caution, even though they hold valid passes.
Free Parking and Ramadan Period
Dubai will continue to offer free parking on Sundays and public holidays. Additionally, during the Ramadan period, parking fees will change. Currently, in the Ramadan period, parking is free from 6 to 8 p.m., as well as all day on Sunday. However, multi-story car parks operate around the clock, and the tariff remains unchanged.
In Summary
Dubai's parking system is continuously evolving, and the introduction of the new variable tariff from 2025 is clearly aimed at reducing traffic and making the best use of parking opportunities. Although the changes may cause some initial confusion, the goal is to make parking easier and more transparent for both locals and tourists in the long run. The introduction of premium parking spaces ensures parking opportunities in high-demand areas while also helping to ease the city's traffic burden.
