(Staff Report) www.khaleejtimes.com
Parking will be free in Dubai with the exception of fish market parking lots from tomorrow to September 2 in view of the during Eid holidays, the RTA announced on Friday.
Normal fees will be collected from September 3.
The RTA also announced work schedules for all its services during the holidays, which include customer service centres, paid parking, public transport buses, Dubai Metro, marine transport modes, vehicle driving schools and institutes, and vehicle testing and registration centres.
Dr Aisha Al Busmait, Director of Marketing and Corporate Communication, RTA, said, “Customer service centres (at Umm Al Ramool, Al Barsha, and Deira) will be closed during Eid holidayd starting from tomorrow, and official office hours will resume on September 4. With the exception of the Fish Market parking lots, all paid parking lots will be free all over the emirate of Dubai from tomorrow, and normal fees will be resumed on September 3.’’
Al Busmait called upon all vehicle owners to comply with the rules and not to park their vehicles on sidewalks or behind other vehicles, as such practice would entail imposing the prescribed fines against offenders.
The RTA would extend Dubai Metro working hours. Metro stations will receive commuters from 6am to 1am from the first day of Eid up to September 1 (Thursday). On Friday, the trains will run from 1pm to 1am.
“As for public bus schedules (Dubai Bus), they will be as follows: Public transport stations, including the main stations such as Gold Souk, Al Ghubaiba and Al Satwa: the service will run from 6am to 12 midnight, seven days a week. At sub-stations such as Al Qusais, and Al Quoz Industrial Area, it will be from 6am 12 midnight. As for Jebel Ali and Hor Al Anz stations, the service starts at 6am and continues till 10pm, seven days a week. Dubai Metro feeder service stations at Al Rashidiya, Emirates Mall, Ibn Battuta, and Khalifa Tower operate from 6am to 1am.
Inter-city bus services will be as follows: At the main stations such as Al Ghubaiba and Al Sharjah, services will be available round the clock. At sub-stations, such as Al Sabkhah and Abu Dhabi, the service will be from 6am to 12 midnight. As for Hatta, Fujairah, and Ajman, Al Karama and City Centre stations, the service will be from 6am to 10pm. Dubai Metro feeder bus stations at the Union Square will operate from 6am to 12 midnight.
The schedules of marine transport modes will be as follows: The water bus service will be from 7am to 11pm, the water taxi from 10am to 10pm, and Ferry Dubai from 11am to 9pm.
Driving schools such as Emirates Driving Institute, Belhasa Driving School, Al Ahli Driving School, Dubai Driving Centre, and Galadari Motor Driving Centre will be closed on the first and second days of Eid, and will resume their services on the third day of Eid. Drivers’ testing and issuing of drivers’ licences will be closed from tomorrow to September 3, and services will resume on September 4, while work schedule at shopping-centre-based registration offices depend on the relevant centre’s work schedule. All vehicle inspection and registration centres will be closed August 30, and will open only on September 3.
“Fixing customers service schedules comes as part of the RTA’s strategy aimed at providing the best services to the public including the broad spectrum of the community segments in line with the highest international standards applicable in this area, so as to address their needs of these services during the holidays of Eid Al Fitr,” Al Busmait said.
