Abu Dhabi: Even as a good number of parking machines in Abu Dhabi await upgrades that will enable them to accept the new dirham coins, people can opt for a new method of payment for Mawaqif parking: their credit cards.
The Department of Transport (Dot) announced on Tuesday that motorists can now pay for their parking through their Visa or MasterCards at over 2,000 machines currently in operation in paid parking areas.
Motorists will now be able to insert their Visa or MasterCards in Mawaqif machines and pay for the parking service.
This is the fifth different method through which motorists can pay for their Mawaqif parking in the city of Abu Dhabi.
Motorists hitherto could pay for parking at designated paid parking areas either through dirham coins, Mawaqif pre-paid card, M-Mawaqif mobile service and the mobile fees payment or SMS service. Mawaqif also provides yearly parking permits priced at Dh 800 per annum in specific zones.
With residents facing problems as the new dirham coin is not accepted by all Mawaqif machines and the Dot announcing that this problem will be rectified by the second quarter of this year, the announcement of payments through credit cards was greeted by motorists in the capital.
“It is a good option because I always have my credit card on me but I might not have the pre-paid card,” Shaikh Fareed, a company owner said.
Fareed, who currently pays Mawaqif through the pre-paid card said, “I don’t find the pre-paid cards in every grocery shop. I have to buy them at the Mawaqif centre only.”
Another Abu Dhabi resident, Daniella Schlatterer, who works as a horse-riding instructor said, “It is an interesting system. I think it’s a good idea because I don’t always have coins.”
Parking management services will apply from 8am to 12pm, Saturdays to Thursdays, at a rate of Dh3 per hour for Premium Parking (identified by turquoise and white kerbstones) with a maximum stay of 4 hours, and Dh2 per hour or Dh15 per day for Standard Parking (identified by turquoise and black kerbstones).
For further information and enquiries, customers can call the Mawaqif call centre toll-free on 800-3009.
— Sara Diaa is a trainee with Gulf News
