Dubai’s parking overlords, Parkin, teamed up with charge&go (an arm of e&) to roll out 200 DC fast‑charging stations citywide. The action starts in October 2025 with 20 hubs, ramping up over the next year. Charging is slated to hit under 30 minutes. You can reserve a spot and pay through Parkin’s slick app. This ties into Dubai’s wider 2040 urban master plan, since apparently making EVs practical is part of the future.
Faster charging across Dubai
The new DC stations will charge most EVs in under 30 minutes. They’ll be installed in high-traffic locations, including:
- Residential areas
- Shopping malls
- Leisure destinations
Unlike standard AC chargers, DC technology allows much quicker turnarounds, which should ease congestion at charging points. Parkin’s mobile app will let users check availability, reserve a slot, and pay securely.
Dubai already has over 40,000 EVs on its roads. This expansion is designed to keep pace with demand and support the city’s broader sustainability and Dubai 2040 urban master plan objectives.
Phase one: 20 stations first
The rollout begins modestly, with 20 fast chargers installed in key locations. Within a year, the network will expand to 200 public and private charging points.
This phased approach allows Parkin and charge&go to test operations and user behaviour before scaling up. The chargers will be tied to a strict “park and charge” rule, meaning bays can only be occupied while the vehicle is charging. That should discourage people from hogging spaces after their car is full.
What’ll It Cost to Plug In?
Thanks to the brilliance of bureaucracy (aka Cabinet Decision No. 81, effective January 2025), public charging costs are now uniform across the Emirates:
- AC slow charging: AED 0.70 per kWh + 5% VAT → ~AED 0.735/kWh
- DC fast charging: AED 1.20 per kWh + 5% VAT → ~AED 1.26/kWhÂ
Let’s break that down into some real numbers, because flat‑rate math matters, sadly:
| Battery Size | 20 → 100% Charge (kWh) | AC (incl. VAT) | DC (incl. VAT) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 60 kWh | ~48 kWh | AED 35 | AED 60 |
| 85 kWh | ~68 kWh | AED 50 | AED 85 |
While home charging still exists, rates vary—around AED 0.38/kWh (plus fees—so let’s call it ~AED 0.44/kWh) depending on your provider and setup.
Green mobility at scale
Dubai has made clean transport a priority. Both Parkin and e& (Etisalat Group) frame this partnership as a step towards cutting emissions and encouraging adoption of EVs and plug-in hybrids.
Parkin already manages more than 212,000 parking spaces in Dubai, making it well-placed to integrate charging points directly into the city’s parking system.
What this means for drivers
For EV owners, this move could solve several pain points:
- Cuts charging time to under 30 minutes at DC stations.
- Phase one launches in October 2025 with 20 locations; the remaining 180 will be rolled out in the following year.
- Parkin’s app handles reservations, status tracking, and payments—finally, something straightforward.
- The network aligns with Dubai’s EV strategy, supports ~40,000 vehicles, and backs the 2040 urban plan.
- Fair pricing means you’ll know what you’re paying—even if you don’t want to think about it.
The result should be a more reliable charging network, making EV ownership in Dubai less of a hassle and more practical for daily use.
FAQs
When will the first EV fast chargers be available in Dubai?
The first 20 ultra-fast DC charging stations will launch in October 2025.
How long will it take to charge an EV at these new stations?
Charging will take under 30 minutes at the new DC fast chargers.
How many chargers will be installed in total?
A total of 200 fast charging points will be rolled out over 12 months following the launch.
