UAE: Can a brief parking payment delay get you fined in Dubai?

Dubai: A Dubai resident recently raised concerns about receiving a parking fine just minutes after stopping his vehicle, despite making a payment shortly after. Nauman Rashid, a retired British expatriate living in the emirate, shared his experience with Gulf News, highlighting how a brief delay in payment led to an immediate fine. This left him uncertain about how to avoid similar incidents in the future.

In response to the query, Gulf News contacted Parkin, Dubai's largest provider of paid public parking services. Parkin explained how their enforcement system operates, provided guidance on preventing fines, and addressed the possibility of introducing a system to reduce disputes in the future.

Rashid recounted his experience of parking in Al Quoz, Dubai. “I took three to four minutes to pay via SMS after parking. Despite this, I received a fine issued two minutes before my payment confirmation,” he explained. Rashid believes a Parkin vehicle recorded the violation while he was still processing payment. When he disputed the fine, the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) rejected his appeal, citing that his payment was late, with no consideration given to the brief delay.

This incident left Rashid wondering whether motorists should pay for parking before physically parking their vehicles to avoid fines. “While unsafe and illegal, it seems like the only way to avoid fines from passing enforcement vehicles,” he remarked. Rashid suggested introducing a grace period of 10 minutes to allow pending payments to be processed before finalising violations.

Parkin confirmed that their enforcement system operates under Executive Council Resolution No. (5) of 2016, ensuring fair and efficient parking management.

"Our trained enforcement team, supported by advanced smart scanning vehicles, conducts real-time inspections to verify compliance with parking regulations. If a vehicle is found without a valid parking session, a fine is issued by applicable rules. This system helps maintain orderly access to parking spaces and contributes to smoother traffic flow," Parkin explained to Gulf News via email.

Parkin stated that their parking system is designed to ensure fair use of public parking spaces. Enforcement teams and smart systems are intended to support compliance while providing motorists with tools to manage their parking effectively.

"To assist drivers, Parkin sends a 15-minute reminder notification before an active session expires, allowing users to extend their parking via the app or other available payment channels. Our goal is to enhance the parking experience by providing seamless digital solutions that help users stay informed and avoid fines. We continuously assess our processes and welcome feedback to further improve parking convenience in Dubai," Parkin added.

To minimise the risk of fines, Parkin advises motorists to:

For convenience, Parkin encourages using the app's auto-renewal feature, which helps extend active sessions automatically. They also recommend frequent users consider a parking subscription. Parkin offers subscriptions for either 'Plots Only' or 'Roadside & Plot' parking for durations of one, three, six, or 12 months, which can be purchased via their website.

If a motorist receives a fine despite making payment shortly after parking, Parkin encourages them to submit a dispute through their website or app. "Each appeal is carefully reviewed by our dedicated team, who assess the specific circumstances and payment records to ensure compliance with parking regulations," Parkin assured.

While Parkin's current system issues fines immediately for non-compliant vehicles, the company acknowledged the concerns raised about brief payment delays. "We recognise that even brief delays in payment confirmation can sometimes lead to disputes, and we are actively working to minimise these occurrences," Parkin said.

They added that they are exploring innovative solutions, including the possibility of a "pending fine" system that would temporarily hold fines to allow time for pending payments to be processed.

"While we do not have immediate changes to announce, Parkin is dedicated to continuous improvement and is actively exploring innovative solutions to enhance operational efficiency and customer satisfaction," they added.

Parkin encouraged motorists to continue sharing their experiences through their official channels, including social media, the Parkin app, and website, as part of their commitment to improving Dubai's parking system.