Dubai: All public transport users — including bus and water bus users, can park for free in Dubai Metro car parks, according to a senior Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) official.
However, those who use red tickets instead of the Nol card will have to validate their tickets through the machines in the car park before exiting.
The RTA made the announcement following complaints by red ticket holders who were charged for using Metro car parks.
“It is a very unclear situation there. Recently I parked my car at the Rashidiya station parking. While entering the car park, the machine asked me to take a parking ticket, which I did. Then I took a Metro trip to the City Centre station and got back after some time. Even though I had return tickets I was charged Dh42 by the parking machine,” said Naveen from Al Ain, who was visiting Dubai.
According to Mohammad Yousuf Al Mudharreb, Director of Operations at the RTA’s Rail Agency, the machine only charges people who do not have a Nol card or a validated red ticket.
“All public transport users who hold Nol cards can use the parking facilities. The fares will be calculated automatically and deducted from the balance of their Nol card [e-purse] at the entry and exit of the car park. However, for public transport users without Nol Cards they can get a daily Nol ticket at the entry gates and travel on the Metro and public transport but have to validate the card and pay the applicable fare at the parking payment machines available in the car parks before they exit,” said Al Mudharreb.
Al Mudharreb added that commuters should use the same red ticket issued by the machine to travel on the Metro to get free parking.
“Red Nol tickets are daily passes which are given out upon entry to the car park for those who do not have Nol cards, and they give the facility of free parking to the customer if they use public transport,” said Al Mudharreb.
However, according to another commuter, RTA officers told him he needed a Nol card to get free parking.
“I was told at the reception of Rashidiya station that free parking is only for people who use Nol silver or gold cards,” said a dejected commuter who did not wish to be named.
He added that if the RTA wants to encourage people to use public transport they should make parking free for all.
Clarifying the impression that parking is only free for Metro users, Al Mudharreb said: “The RTA is offering the free parking service for public transport users only, which means the customer needs to pay for parking if he/she does not travel on public transportation [Metro, bus, water bus].”
The RTA announced changes to the parking system at Metro car parks recently following a new law signed by Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council.
According to the changes, non-public transport users will pay Dh10 per hour for up to five hours or Dh50 for the day.
Customers can also take advantage of annual and six-monthly parking cards, which cost Dh5,000 and Dh3,000.
Parking is available for 24 hours and all days of the year, and the law is applicable at all current Metro car parks, which include Rashidiya, Nakheel Harbour and Tower and Etisalat metro stations.
“At the moment Rashidiya Metro station car park is gated and hence people who do not use public transport [Metro, bus and water bus] will be charged as per the approved law. However, Etisalat and Nakheel Harbour and Tower Metro car park stations being non-gated, we have not commenced charging commuters. These car parks will be charged in the near future as soon as the gated system is in place and commences operations,” said Al Mudharreb.
