DWTC parking fees are rising to Dhs25 per hour during major events, effective 17 February 2025. Parkin — Dubai's primary paid-parking operator — is introducing the new "Grand Events Parking" tariff to reduce vehicle congestion around the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) and Sheikh Zayed Road, and to steer visitors toward the Dubai Metro.
What the New DWTC Parking Rate Means
The affected zones will be officially designated Grand Events Parking areas. The Dhs25-per-hour rate applies only during event operating hours — not all day — and clear signage at each location will display the active rate. Drivers can also check current pricing on the Parkin mobile app and website before heading out.
The primary motivation is traffic management. DWTC hosts some of the UAE's largest trade shows and conferences, drawing tens of thousands of visitors in a compressed window and causing significant gridlock on one of Dubai's busiest highways.
Which Events Trigger the Higher Rate?
Parkin's Grand Events tariff will activate during the following major exhibitions at DWTC in 2025:
- Gulfood — 17–21 February - Arabian Travel Market (ATM) — 28 April–1 May - GITEX Global — 13–17 October - Beauty World Middle East — 27–29 October
Additional events may be added to the list; the Parkin app will reflect any updates in real time.
Dubai Exhibition Centre Expansion at Expo City Dubai
In a related development, HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum has approved a Dhs10 billion expansion of the Dubai Exhibition Centre (DEC) at Expo City Dubai. The phased project will dramatically increase the venue's footprint:
- Phase 1 (2026): Exhibition space grows from 58,000 m² to 140,000 m² - Phase 2 (2028): Further expansion to approximately 160,000 m² - Phase 3 (2031): Final build-out reaches 180,000 m² across 26 interconnected halls
Once complete, the DEC will be the largest purpose-built indoor exhibitions venue in the region, and Dubai's annual major-event count is expected to double from 300 to 600. The expansion is part of the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan and is projected to generate an economic impact of Dhs18–54 billion annually by 2033.
Together, the new parking tariff and the exhibition centre expansion signal Dubai's strategy to manage near-term congestion while investing heavily in long-term event infrastructure.
