Dubai offers free parking, taxi fare discounts for tourists with special needs

On Thursday, officials from both the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) and Dubai Taxi Company (DTC) separately confirmed that tourists with special needs or people of determination (PoD) are entitled to three months of free public parking in Dubai. Additionally, they can obtain special permits that grant them a 50 percent discount on taxi services.

Osama Al Safi, the Director of the Parking Department at RTA and the head of the Friendly Organisation for People of Determination (PoD), announced during the 4th Accessible Travel and Tourism International Conference that tourists with PoD status are entitled to complimentary use of public parking throughout Dubai, mirroring the privilege extended to senior Emiratis and residents with PoD status.

Digital parking permit

The process of obtaining free parking can be completed through the RTA’s website or app online, or in-person at any RTA customer happiness centre. Since August of last year, the RTA has transitioned its free parking permit services to a digital format, eliminating the need for PoDs to print and display physical permits.

It’s important to note that the provision of free parking for PoD tourists is temporary, with a limitation of up to three months per application.

Discounts in taxi fare

Meanwhile, PoD tourists can also avail of 50 per cent discount in taxi fares across Dubai, according to Abdullah Ibrahim Al Meer, acting Chief Business Transformation Officer at DTC. “They (PoD tourists) just need to apply for a Sanad card, a smart card issued by the Community Development Authority (CDA) for PoD residents and tourists,” he noted.