Parking Fees Near Event Venues to Be Raised to Ease Congestion

Higher parking fees at the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) will go into effect starting Monday, February 17th, in an effort to ease congestion during major events. The increase, announced by Parkin, will affect the ‘Grand Event Zone’, where rates will rise to AED 25 per hour.

The change comes as Dubai continues to refine its approach to traffic management in high-demand areas. Authorities have been evaluating congestion pricing measures since late 2024, and the decision to raise event parking fees aligns with broader efforts, including the introduction of variable Salik toll gate charges and adjustments to public parking rates. Salik fees have been in place since late January, while revised public parking tariffs will be introduced gradually starting in March.

Officials encourage visitors to rely on public transport when attending events to alleviate traffic pressure. The timing of the new fees coincides with the start of the Gulfood trade show, one of the largest exhibitions held at DWTC. Previously, parking rates in the ‘Trade Center First (Code X)’ zone ranged from AED 2 for 30 minutes to AED 16 for four hours.

Similar parking adjustments have already been implemented elsewhere in Dubai, with peak-hour rates in high-demand areas set to rise to AED 6 per hour between 8 AM and 10 AM, and again from 4 PM to 8 PM. Additionally, parking fees in Al Sufouh 2 were recently raised as part of the city's evolving strategy to manage urban mobility more effectively.