Dubai: The minimum parking fee in Dubai will be Dh2 per hour in all areas by the end of this month, Gulf News has learnt.
The parking fees in some areas of Dubai have been doubled from Dh1 to Dh2 per hour as part of the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA)'s plan to standardise parking rates all over the emirate.
However, there is no increase in fees in areas where the motorists are already paying Dh2 per hour.
"We have completely enforced the original parking law which stipulates that the parking fee for the first hour shall be Dh2," Peyman Younus Parham, Director of the RTA's Marketing and Communication Department, told Gulf News.
He said that Dh1 per hour parking fee was introduced in the areas which were inside the communities, some residential areas and arterial roads while Dh2 per hour parking fee is charged for areas in the Commercial Business Districts in Deira and Bur Dubai, main roads and major commercial areas.
"We have standardised the parking fee considering the fact the paid parking zones are now equally busy and it is unfair to charge Dh1 in some areas and Dh2 in the areas right next to it," he added.
The new parking fee has already been implemented in a number of areas including Karama. "We are updating around 150 parking machines everyday and would complete updating of a total of 2,525 parking machines in the affected areas by end of this month," Parham added.
Motorists in Dubai, however, are furious about the RTA's decision to increase the parking fees in residential areas like Karama.
"This will be an additional burden on people like us who are already facing financial difficulties," said Shaikh Majeed Ahmad, an Indian resident in Karama.
Mabelle, a Filipina resident in Bur Dubai, said that the increase in the parking fee was unjustifiable.
"The RTA, in fact, should give discounts to residents in paid parking areas next to their building," she added.
Cash, cards and mpay
There are various options to pay for parking. In addition to using coins, various types of pre-paid cards can be used, in addition to using the mParking service through mobile phones.
One type of parking card is for shorter periods and is available in denominations of Dh30, Dh50 and Dh100. They can be used at parking meters, instead of using coins, to get parking tickets.
A card worth Dh100 is available for Dh85. Cards of value of Dh50 are sold for Dh43 and a Dh30 card can be obtained for Dh26. Seasonal cards, available for three, six and 12 months costing between Dh450 and Dh2,500, are fixed to the windscreen.
Fines and illegal parking
A parking fine can be issued round the clock even on holidays regardless of paid parking time.
A motorist gets a parking fine of Dh200 in case of illegal parking.
The illegal parking fine is issued if a vehicle is parked in a space reserved for the disabled, in bus bays, in yellow boxes, in loading and unloading areas, on footpaths and walkways and double parking
The fine for parking without paying the fee is Dh150 and exceeding the permissible parking time is Dh100.
Do you agree with RTA’s decision to increase the parking fare? Will this make it easier for people to find parking? Or will it encourage motorists to use illegal parking spots instead? Tell us.
