How to get Free Parking in Dubai
Roads & Transport Authority provides paid and free parking services in Dubai. Free parking in Dubai is available on Sunday and some special days at designated public parking areas.
Many residents and tourists look for free car parking in Dubai. They want to know if there is free parking today in Dubai or not. I am here to answer all your queries about free parking Dubai.
Free Parking Zones in Dubai
You can get free parking in Dubai at many public places such as malls, public parks, amusement parks, water parks and others. Here I provide the list of free parking spaces in Dubai as follows;
- Public Parks
- Shopping Malls
- Water & Amusement Parks and Theme Parks
- Parking Garages
- Street Parking
- Parking in Residential Surroundings
#1. Free Parking at Public Parks in Dubai
There are many attractive public parks in Dubai. The residents and tourists often go to Al Safa Park, Creek Park, Zabeel Park, Al Mamzar Park, Children’s City, Dubai Safari Park and other public parks.
If you are planning to visit a public park in Dubai, do not worry about the parking. Most public parks in Dubai offer free parking service, while some public parks provide free parking for limited hours.
So, you will get a free parking spot for your car at all public parks in Dubai.
#2. Free Parking at Shopping Malls in Dubai
Dubai is also known as the best shopping destination for foreigners. There are many shopping malls in Dubai, all of them offer general parking and valet parking services. The general parking is free and valet parking is chargeable.
Some malls offer free parking for first two/three hours and takes parking fee thereafter. Here I provide the list of popular malls in Dubai with parking details as follows.
| Mall Name | Free Parking Timing |
| The Dubai Mall | Regular Parking – Free up to 4 HoursRegular Parking after 4 Hours – AED 20/hourValet Parking – Chargeable |
| IBN Battuta Mall | Regular Parking – Free for Whole DayValet Parking – Chargeable |
| Dubai Festival City Mall | Regular Parking – Free for Whole DayValet Parking – Chargeable |
| Mercato Mall | Regular Parking – Free for Whole DayValet Parking – Chargeable |
| Mall of the Emirates | Regular Parking – Free for Whole DayValet Parking – Chargeable |
| City Centre MIRDIF | Regular Parking – Free for Whole DayValet Parking – Chargeable |
| Dubai Marina Mall | Regular Parking – Free up to 3 HoursRegular Parking after 3 Hours – AED 20/hourFree Parking on Shopping for AED 250 or More |
| City Centre Deira | Regular Parking – Free up to 3 HoursRegular Parking after 3 Hours – AED 20/hour |
| Burjuman Mall | Regular Parking – Free up to 2 HoursRegular Parking after 2 Hours – AED 20/hour |
| Wafi City [Wafi Mall] | Regular Parking – Free up to 3 HoursRegular Parking after 3 Hours – AED 10-15/hourValet Parking – Chargeable |
| Dubai Hills Mall | Regular Parking – Free for Whole Day |
#3. Free Parking at Water & Amusement Parks Dubai
There are many water parks, theme parks and amusement parks in Dubai. All of them provide free parking for the customers. There is an entry fee at each amusement park and you must pay the fee to get an entry ticket to enter the park.
Here I provide the list of famous water & amusement parks in Dubai as follows;
| Amusement Park Name | Parking Information |
| The Dubai Aquarium & Underwater Zoo | Free Parking |
| IMG Worlds of Adventure | Free Parking |
| Laguna Waterpark | Free Parking |
| Atlantis Aquaventure Waterpark | Free Parking |
| Yas Waterworld | Free Parking |
| Motiongate Dubai | Free Parking |
| Ski Dubai | Free Parking |
| LEGOLAND Dubai | Free Parking |
| Splash n Party | Free Parking |
| Dubai Miracle Garden | Free Parking |
| Hub Zero Park | Free Parking |
The free parking is available at all water & amusement parks in Dubai but it is available as long as you are inside the park. You have to vacant the parking spot immediately after you exit the park.
#4. Free Parking Garages in Dubai
The Government of Dubai has set up parking garages near all crowded places like malls, parks and others. Most parking garages offer free parking, while some garages charge nominal parking fee. Here is the list of parking garages in Dubai.
- Car Park Morcos
- GreenParking DWD
- Private Parking
- Trade Centre Multi-Storey Car Park (Chargeable Parking)
- Al Ferdous 4 Parking
- Parking Sheikh Rashid Tower
- GreenParking Dubai Opera
- and Many Others
Each parking garage has a sign-board with parking fees and instructions. You must read the sign-board and park your car as per rules. If the parking is chargeable, you should pay the parking fee by cash or nol card or credit card.
#5. Free Street Parking in Dubai
The parking spots are available in almost all streets of Dubai. Some street parking areas come under paid public parking, while others offer free parking.
The free street parking is available for light vehicles only and not for heavy vehicles like buses and trucks. Moreover, not all street parking areas offer free parking. Therefore you must check if the parking is free before you park your car.
Some streets provide free car parking in night time only. Some street parking spots near malls & parks are fully occupied during peak hours. So, you can get a parking spot for your car in a street depending upon the area and availability.
#6. Parking in Residential Surroundings
If you drive around the Dubai City, you can find many parking spots in residential surroundings. Most of them offer free parking in daytime and no parking in night time. So, you cannot park your car for a whole night in residential areas of Dubai.
The residential surrounding areas are the best parking spots to park your car safely. But you must check the sign-board and park your car only if it is allowed and only during the given timings.
When is Parking Free in Dubai?
The parking is free in Dubai on every Sunday. In addition, you can get free car parking on festival days, public holidays and some special occasions as announced by the RTA authority, Government of Dubai.
Is Parking Free in Dubai on Friday?
No, the parking is not free in Dubai on Friday. Earlier, the RTA used to offer free parking on every Friday but that rule is amended in March 2023. Now, the new free parking day is Sunday.
So, there is no free parking available on Friday as the Dubai free parking day is changed to Sunday. You have to pay the parking fee to park your car on Friday in a parking zone in Dubai.
Is Parking Free after 10pm in Dubai?
Yes, the parking is free after 10pm in Dubai at many public parking zones. Some premium parking spaces including multistory parking are still chargeable but general paid parking zones are free after 10:00 PM.
The Dubai paid parking timing is from 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM. So, you can get free car parking during night time between 10:00 PM and 8:00 AM the next morning.
Note:
Most public parking zones provide paid parking from 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM and free parking from 10:00 PM to 8:00 AM on next day. But some parking zones have different timings and parking restrictions during night time.
Therefore you should check the sign-board near the parking zone to know the parking timings and free parking availability. You should park your car only if the parking is allowed.
If you park your car in a restricted parking area, you will get parking fine and legal consequences.
Free Parking for People of Determination
The people of determination (physically challenged) can get free parking in Dubai. Except premium parking zones like multistory parking, multi-level parking, etc., the people of determination can park their car for free at any public parking zone in Dubai.
Eligibility Condition: A person must have a valid disability certificate to get free parking services at paid public parking zones in Dubai.
Why It’s Hard to Get Parking in Dubai
Dubai is a busy city with many shopping malls, museums, beaches, public parks and other attractive places. The Dubai City has many must-visit places that reflect its cultural heritage, advanced infrastructure and business development.
Therefore Dubai has a lot of crowd and getting a parking spot is a challenge during the daytime. There is a hassle to get a car parking at Dubai International Airport because it has thousands of visitors on daily basis.
The bottom line:
Free Parking Dubai is available on every Sunday, while parking fees are levied from Monday to Saturday. The RTA authority provides free parking for everyone on public holidays, festival days and some special occasions.
In this article, I have explained everything about free parking in Dubai and how to find the best parking spot for your car. If you still have a query, you can ask it in the comment box and get a response in 24-48 hours.
FAQs
Can I get free parking on Friday in Dubai?
No, you cannot get free parking on Friday in Dubai, the free parking is available on Sunday.
Is free parking available during Eid Al Adha?
Yes, free parking is available for four days during Eid Al Adha in Dubai.
Is night parking free in Dubai public parking zones?
Yes, the night parking is free in Dubai public parking zones except premium parking spots such as multistory parking plots/zones.
Is free parking available in the streets of Dubai?
Yes, free parking is available in the streets of Dubai but not all streets. You should read the sign-board to check parking rules & restrictions before you park your car in a street parking area.
Can I get free parking at Dubai Marina Mall?
Yes, you can get free parking for first 3 hours at Dubai Marina Mall. After 3 hours, you must pay AED 20 per hour as parking fee. The parking fee is waived off if you shop at Dubai Marina Mall for AED 250 or more.
