Eid Holidays: Dubai Metro till 2am, 8,000 taxis on road, free parking

The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has worked out a comprehensive road traffic movement plan for the Eid Al Fitr holidays. Hussain Al Banna, Director of Traffic at RTA's Traffic & Roads Agency, said, "The RTA has finalised the operational plans for Eid Al Fitr holidays which sees heavy traffic every year. Mall to mall “The plan’s first target is Dubai Mall area, where the parking spaces opposite to the cinema together with the Trade Centre's yards will be utilised as additional parking spaces in case all Dubai Mall car parks are full. “The plan also includes operating shuttle bus service to take visitors to the mall, besides installing necessary directional signs," he said. "Directional signs,” added Al Banna, “Will be set up to guide motorists to use alternative routes within the Business Bay area rather than thronging the Financial Centre Street, to ease the traffic pressure on roads in the area. “Signalised junctions will also be monitored to ease traffic snarls, especially during evening rush hours in coordination with the management of the Mall and Dubai Police, and providing passengers pick-up and drop-off points for buses and taxis." Al Banna also spoke about traffic light surveillance in the Festival City area and Al Rabat Street to ease the traffic movement. He also revealed that the plan includes operating shuttle bus service to transport passengers from the centre to the Emirates Station as an additional transit means, just in case taxi cabs are not available. About Deira City Centre, Emirates Mall and Marina Mall, Al Banna said, "Traffic light surveillance and control systems will be installed in the surroundings of these centres to facilitate the traffic movement during traffic jams, besides recommending the public to use Dubai Metro, thus sparing themselves the hassles of finding parking spaces.” Taxis Adel Shakeri, Director of Transportation Systems at RTA's Public Transport Agency, said, "During the Eid holidays, all franchise companies’ taxi cabs will be running at an operation rate of 95 per cent. “We mainly focus on providing vehicles in vital areas such as tourist attractions and shopping malls in Dubai, especially the Mohammed bin Rashid Boulevard area. A number of coordinators will be deployed in places designated for taxi cabs in vital areas to ease the traffic flow." He pointed out that about 8,000 taxi cabs would be operating in Dubai during the holidays, noting that the taxi fleet had been expanded of late with 100 vehicles. Shakeri said the Booking & Despatch Centre would be working day-and-night during Eid holidays. Free Parking The RTA has also announced the timings for all its services during Eid holidays, including customer service centres, paid parking zones, public buses, Dubai Metro, marine transit modes, driving schools and vehicles inspection and registration. Ahmad Mahboob, Director of RTA's customer services, said, "Customer service centres will close during the holidays as of 29 Ramadan and will reopen on 3 Shawal. All paid parking zones in Dubai will be free with the exception of the Fish Market parking lots and the multi-level parking terminals, with effect from 29 Ramadan. The paid parking service will be restored on 3 Shawal." Metro “The RTA will extend the Dubai Metro working hours throughout Eid Al Fitr holidays, as of Thursday 8 August, starting from 05:30am up to 02:00am of the following day. “On Friday 9 August, working hours will start from 09:00am to 02:00am of the following day, whereas stations will be working on Saturday and Sunday from 5:30am to 01:00am of the next day.” Buses "As for public buses, working hours will be as follows: Public bus stations including key stations such as Gold Souk and Ghubaiba (1 & 2): from 06:00am to 12:00 midnight, Sub-stations such as Satwa, Al Qusais, Al Quoz Industrial and Jebel Ali: from 06:00am to 10:00pm. "As for Metro feeder bus stations at Rashidiya, Emirates Mall, Ibn Battuta, Abu Hail, Etisalat and Burj Khalifa, service starts from 06:00am and continues up to 01:00am past midnight. “Service timing of commercial buses and inter-city transport will be as follows: Main stations such as Ghubaiba will offer services around the clock, while sub-stations such as Sabkha and Union Square will offer services from 06:00am up to 12midnight. Deira City Centre and Karama stations will work from 06:00am to 10:00pm. External bus stations such as Sharjah (Jubail - Bur Dubai) will offer non-stop services, while Sharjah (Jubail - Deira) and Abu Dhabi will offer services from 06:00am up to 12:00midnight, and Fujairah, Ajman and Hatta stations will offer services from 06:00am up to 10:00pm,” he said. Marine transport Mahboob also detailed the timings of marine transit modes as follows: “The Water Bus (Dubai Creek Stations), will be on service on Thursday and Saturday from 07:00am to 10:00pm, but on Friday, the service timing will be from 10:00am – 12:00midnight. Marine stations will be open on Thursday from 10:00 am to 12:00midnight, but on Friday, the stations will start business from 12:00 midday and continue till 12 midnight, while on Saturday, the service timing of the stations will be from 12:00 noon up to 10:00 pm. “The Water Taxi will offer services from Thursday to Saturday, starting from 09:00 am up to 10:00pm, while Dubai Ferry will be starting trips on Thursday at 11:00am, 03.30pm, 05:00pm and 07:00pm. Ghubaiba Station will run ferry trips on Friday and Saturday at 11:00am, 02:00pm, 3.30pm, 05:00pm, 06:00pm and 07:00pm. Marina Station ferry  on Friday and Saturday will start at: 11:00am, 02:00pm, 03.30pm, 05:00 pm, 06:00pm, 06:30pm and 07:00pm. “Water taxis during the Eid holidays start at 09:00am and continue to 10:00pm,” said Mahboob. Driving schools "Driving schools and centres such as the Emirates Institute, Belhasa Driving Centre, Dubai Centre, Galadari Centre, Al Ahli Centre and Dubai International Centre, will remain closed on the first and second of Shawal, and work will resume on 3 Shawal, whereas the service timing of registration offices at shopping centres will be geared by the timing of the relevant centers,” he said. Timings of vehicle and registration offices will be as follows: Wasel Vehicles Inspection Centre will be closed on 1 and 2 Shawal and work will resume on 3 Shawal. Shirawi, Tamam, Quick and Cars Centres will be closed on 1, 2 & 3 Shawal and work will resume on 4 Shawal, while Mumayaz, Shamel and Enoc registration centres will resume working on 4 Shawal. Emirates24/7