Dubai, UAE – October 2025: As thousands of visitors flock to GITEX Global 2025, many attendees are facing unexpectedly high parking charges around the Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) — with some paying as much as Dh400 per day for parking.
Steep Parking Rates at Event Venues
Parking near DWTC has proven challenging and costly for visitors this year. The official Trade Centre parking lots are charging Dh100 on entry, followed by Dh50 per hour thereafter. Similarly, Mustaqbal parking facilities have set their rates at Dh50 for entry and Dh30 per hour for subsequent hours.
Street-side parking zones managed under Parkin’s Code X are slightly less expensive but still substantial at Dh25 per hour.
Visitors Share Their Experiences
Mohammed Adnan, who arrived at the venue around 10 a.m., shared that it took him nearly 40 minutes to find a parking spot near One Central.
“I paid Dh100 to enter and by the time I left at 5 p.m., my total bill was Dh400,” he said, adding that despite the high cost, he preferred the convenience of having his car nearby.
Another visitor, Anoop Nair from Sharjah, reported paying Dh320 for nearly nine hours of parking in Mustaqbal. He initially considered leaving his car at Al Jaddaf and taking the metro, but opted to drive directly due to the heavy equipment he needed to carry.
“I had to attend client meetings and carry promotional material, so public transport wasn’t an option today,” he explained.
Some Opt for Public Transport
For some, the Dubai Metro proved to be the smarter choice. Shehnaz Ahmed, who lives near a metro station, said her total round-trip cost was just Dh6, compared to the hundreds being spent by car users.
“Taking the metro saved time and money. The stations were crowded, but it was much more convenient,” she added.
Parking Fines Add to the Cost
Not everyone managed to avoid additional expenses. One visitor who parked near Dubai Internet City said she received a Dh100 fine after forgetting to renew her four-hour parking ticket — bringing her total cost for the day to Dh145.
Traffic and Demand Surge
With thousands of exhibitors, delegates, and visitors attending GITEX 2025, the area around the Dubai World Trade Centre has experienced heavy congestion and limited parking availability — a common occurrence during large-scale events.
Authorities have encouraged visitors to use public transport options such as the Dubai Metro to ease traffic pressure and reduce parking-related expenses.