Dubai is set to implement new variable parking fees starting April 4, which will include higher parking charges during peak hours in certain premium areas. This change comes after Parkin PJSC, the largest operator of paid public parking in Dubai, confirmed in a company disclosure on the Dubai Financial Market that the new tariff pricing system will take effect following the Eid Al Fitr holidays.
The new pricing structure, based on a variable tariff, will apply for 6 out of the 14 chargeable hours each day. From 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., parking fees in certain premium zones will increase, excluding Sundays and public holidays. However, parking charges during off-peak hours (10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. to 10 p.m.) will remain unchanged, continuing to follow the current tariff structure.
Currently, Parkin is observing Ramadan timings, where parking is chargeable from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and from 8 p.m. to midnight. Additionally, parking is free between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. Monday to Saturday, and all day on Sundays, during the Ramadan period. Multi-level parking facilities remain open 24/7. 
To prepare for the new fees, Parkin has already begun placing new parking signages across various commercial and residential areas in Dubai. Notifications have also been sent to users of the Parkin app, informing them about updates to zone codes, although the parking fees remain the same for now.
The city’s paid parking zones are divided into four main areas: A, B, C, and D, which will be renamed AP, BP, CP, and DP. These zones are further classified into standard and premium parking areas, with different pricing structures for each. Additionally, there are several other parking zone codes in different parts of Dubai, such as E, I, J, K, and L at Jumeirah Lakes Towers (JLT), F for Knowledge Village, and G for the Burj Khalifa and surrounding areas. Premium parking spaces, especially in high-demand areas, will see an increase in fees.
For example, in Al Barsha, a residential area currently classified under the 373C code (a non-premium area), parking fees will see a significant rise during peak hours. For one hour of parking from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m., the charge will increase from Dh2 to Dh6. Over four hours, the fee will jump from Dh11 to Dh24 during peak times. In contrast, parking charges during off-peak hours (10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and 8 p.m. to 10 p.m.) will remain at the current rate of Dh2 for one hour and Dh11 for four hours.
Parkin has explained that premium parking areas are selected based on three main factors: proximity to public transport (especially metro stations within 500 meters), high parking occupancy during peak hours, and areas with dense commercial or market activity. The changes are part of Parkin’s ongoing collaboration with the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) to finalize details about the variable tariff system, which is expected to officially roll out in April.
This new parking system aims to manage congestion in high-traffic areas while providing a more flexible approach to parking pricing in Dubai.
