RTA announces operational hours for Metro and paid parking zones during Ramadan

Dubai: The Metro will operate till 1am during Ramadan, a senior official at the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) said on Saturday.

Metro services will start at 6am and continue till 1am on weekdays. On Fridays, the trains will run from 2pm to 1am, Mattar Al Tayer, Board Chairman and Executive Director of RTA, said in a statement.

During Ramadan, paid parking zones will be operational from 7pm to midnight instead of 5pm to 10pm at present. The morning session will remain unchanged (from 8am to 1pm), Al Tayer said.

The changes in Metro schedules and paid parking hours are in response to a comprehensive study of people's mobility in Dubai during Ramadan and the working hours in public and private sector organisations, Al Tayer said.

"The movement of people increases after iftar and Taraweeh prayers and continues late at night."

Al Tayer said Metro users had increased from 2,373,451 in April to 3,262,912 in June.

Unexpected increase

"While we were bracing for a drop in Metro users in July and August due to the summer vacation, the first week of July registered a record number of Metro riders with 130,529 commuters using the Metro on July 1 alone," he said.

Al Tayer explained that the revised parking timings in the evening session were intended to ease the pressure on motorists as the movement of the public within markets and business districts during Ramadan shifts from day time to the period after iftar.

Convenience

With paid parking being extended to midnight, people celebrating iftar will find it more convenient to find parking spaces.

"It was inevitable to take a decision that goes in parallel line with the commercial activity in the emirate to ensure the availability of parking space during iftar.

"This will also streamline the traffic movement in all areas of the emirate, minimise the negative use of parking and ensure the availability of parking space during the peak business hours of Ramadan," Al Tayer said.

At a glance: Change in timings

- Metro to operate from 6am till 1am on weekdays and 2pm to 1am on Fridays during Ramadan.

- Paid parking zones to be operational from 7pm to midnight.

- Paid parking zones will continue to be operational from 8am to 1pm during the day.

- Metro users increased from 2,373,451 passengers in April to 3,262,912 in June.

Do you think these new timings are suitable for Ramadan? Will you use these services more with the extensions?