To keep the UAE moving smoothly during the 54th National Day (Eid Al Etihad) long weekend, transport regulators have rolled out a suite of temporary measures that will matter to every commuter, expatriate and inbound visitor. Dubai’s Roads & Transport Authority confirmed on 29 November that all surface parking – except multi-storey car parks and Al Khail Gate – will be free from Sunday 30 November through Tuesday 2 December. Metro and Tram services will run until 1 a.m., with earlier Sunday start-ups to capture morning airport traffic.
Abu Dhabi’s Integrated Transport Centre matched the gesture, announcing three days of free parking and a suspension of Darb road-tolls for the same period. The capital’s public-bus network will operate on holiday timetables, while customer-happiness centres close for the break.
![National Day mobility: Dubai and Abu Dhabi waive parking fees, extend Metro and suspend Darb tolls]()
For mobility managers, the free-parking window offers a cost-neutral incentive to schedule airport drop-offs via private vehicles rather than corporate shuttles, easing pressure on chauffeured fleets. However, planners should warn assignees that multi-storey facilities and certain gated zones still charge; misuse can lead to AED 150 fines once enforcement resumes at 8 a.m. on 3 December.
RTA also recommends that families flying out of DXB arrive three hours early, use Smart Gates for children aged 12 plus and check luggage weight at home to avoid last-minute delays. With Emirates, flydubai and Etihad projecting a combined 10 million passengers over the holiday period, early starts and app-based check-in remain the safest game plan.
Abu Dhabi’s Integrated Transport Centre matched the gesture, announcing three days of free parking and a suspension of Darb road-tolls for the same period. The capital’s public-bus network will operate on holiday timetables, while customer-happiness centres close for the break.
For mobility managers, the free-parking window offers a cost-neutral incentive to schedule airport drop-offs via private vehicles rather than corporate shuttles, easing pressure on chauffeured fleets. However, planners should warn assignees that multi-storey facilities and certain gated zones still charge; misuse can lead to AED 150 fines once enforcement resumes at 8 a.m. on 3 December.
RTA also recommends that families flying out of DXB arrive three hours early, use Smart Gates for children aged 12 plus and check luggage weight at home to avoid last-minute delays. With Emirates, flydubai and Etihad projecting a combined 10 million passengers over the holiday period, early starts and app-based check-in remain the safest game plan.
