Dubai: Residents have complained that Dubai Airport's recent doubling of parking fees is too steep a price to pay, saying no cheaper alternatives exist.
Dubai International Airport doubled parking prices for some time slots approximately a month ago, a move that has not been received well by residents.
An employee working at the parking office said the move was in line with the general inflation being experienced in the UAE.
"I went to the airport and noticed that parking prices had literally doubled over night," said one resident, adding that the 15 minutes of free parking that was previously offered is no longer an option.
"We now have to pay even if we are there for a minute," he said.
Parking B in terminal 1 remains the lowest-priced parking in the airport, but it has also seen a significant increase.
Those parking their vehicles in parking B will have to pay Dh5 for half an hour and Dh15 for up to two hours.
Earlier, it was Dh5 per hour. Parking A in terminal one has doubled, from the previous Dh10 per hour to a new fee of Dh10 per half hour.
An hour costs Dh15 whereas two hours costs Dh25. Parking for more than one day would cost Dh240. Parking at terminal 3 is even higher. It is Dh25 per hour.
Do you think the recent doubling of parking fees at the airport is going to put too much pressure on travellers? Are there any cheaper alternatives? Have you been affected by this? FIll in the form bellow to send your comments.
Your comments
I went for the first time to Dubai Airport and parked in terminal 3. I asked about the longterm parking, as I was new to this airport, and was informed it is "not a problem" by the attendant as well as the people in the information desk. I flew out for five days and on my return I was instructed to pay Dh1,240. I was shocked. The personnel there was not helpfull. No where was there any indication that terminal 3 was not for long term parking...only the fee of Aed 280 per day. So I will still fight this because this is not acceptable at all.
Danie
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: December 11, 2008, 14:15
Recently, I have been to both terminal 1 and terminal 3 and I was surprised regarding the price increase but I guess there is no other option but to pay. The charges are very high. Dubai Airport should come up with alternatives and think of how it is going to affect the travellers.
Ayaz Mohammad
Dubai,UAE
Posted: December 11, 2008, 13:46
I think this is a right move. Actually, if one looks at it carefully they have not increased the price of the parking, they only reduced the duration of time, which I believe will help in reducing people who come for pickup.
Amit Mathur
Dubai,UAE
Posted: December 11, 2008, 13:05
There is a simple solution to all this: no need to take five cars to wait for someone at the airport.
Nicolas
Dubai,UAE
Posted: December 11, 2008, 12:45
People are finding it more and more difficult to survive in Dubai. The rents are already so high. Grocery shopping has become a pain. Now, even picking up loved ones at the airport will become expensive. i think the new rates should be scrapped.
George Lopez
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: December 11, 2008, 12:24
It is advisable to take a taxi to ply to airport because even if there is a substantial increase in parking charges there is no guarantee that you would get parking spot at peak time.
Roshan
Dubai,UAE
Posted: December 11, 2008, 12:02
The doubling of parking fees should not affect the people so much, as we do not travel and use the airport parking facility on a daily basis. Therefore, once in a while if we need to pay a parking fee then it should not be such a big problem. The supreme facilities and infrastructure provided by the authorities must not be overlooked. When the airfares are increased we all have to pay even if it is too high, as there is no alternative. Similarly, due to inflation if the authorities have increased the parking fee (for some time slots) then the decision has to be accepted by travellers. The rise is ok though the rates at Terminal 3 could have been kept at Dh15 per hour instead of Dh25 like in parking A in Terminal 1.
Naina Nair
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: December 11, 2008, 10:32
I believe that there should be an alternative provided. As indicated by the authorities, the price increase is in line with inflation. In this case, free time that was provided earlier should have remained in place rather than charging visitors even who are there for less than 15 minutes. There is not even a waiting area.
Fayaz Fatoo
Dubai,UAE
Posted: December 11, 2008, 10:27
Well in my opinion visitors will not have any other option except droping their loved ones on the exact time, or picking them up directly from arrival. Maybe this is what the authorities are looking for - to reduce the traffic of people and to limit them for the travellers only.
Imran Salim
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: December 11, 2008, 10:26
This move is totally absurd. I had to pay Dh5 for 20 minutes and could not find a parking space! What did they charge me for? For not parking? There aren't even cheaper alternatives.
Sameer
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: December 11, 2008, 10:24
I find that it is reasonable to double parking fees as it runs in line with current inflation rates. But, when doing so, the airport should have assured alternatives to going to the airport cheaply, such as buses and shuttles. A reasonable alternative would have been to wait for the red line of the metro to open, only then can they increase the parking fee.
Malik C.
Dubai,UAE
Posted: December 11, 2008, 10:24
I agree that inflation has hit the economy and the prices are in inclining mode. However, the increase of 75 to 100 per cent in parking fees is too much. Salaries are not reconsidered for inflation but at the end of the day the citizens are hit with all the price changes. Please consider my request and provide the users an affordable alternative to using the services.
Shiva
Dubai,UAE
Posted: December 11, 2008, 10:12
I think that any increase in parking fee is unwarranted and unjustsified under the present recession period, when people are upto their necks with all sorts of price rises and high inflation. The authorities should try to help its people by not introducing any price hikes.
Haridas Kunnath
Dubai,UAE
Posted: December 11, 2008, 09:23
There are a lot of rich people who won't feel the pinch. However, there are a lot of middle and low income people who will have to suffer. It will be hard to ask your friends to drop you at the airport or pick you up on arrival after this hike.
Abdullah Ismail
Dubai,UAE
Posted: December 11, 2008, 09:09
This is not justified. Life is becoming increasingly difficult and unsustainable. It is high time that the authorities look at the common person's condition and work towards improving it rather than making it harder.
Yaten
Dubai,UAE
Posted: December 11, 2008, 08:57
