Today's Edition
KIRSTIN BERNABE (ABU DHABI)
Dalma Mall in Abu Dhabi will start charging parking fees “no earlier than July 25”, the shopping centre has confirmed to Aletihad.
Parking will be free for the first three hours and Dh10 for every additional hour. Those watching a movie are eligible for an additional free hour upon validation of their cinema tickets via the web portal.
No charges will apply on Saturdays, Sunday and public holidays; but the system will be operational 24/7 on all other days.
The mall has partnered with Parkonic and Salik to implement a smart, ticketless parking management system featuring Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) technology.
“ANPR scans your vehicle’s licence plate on entry and exit, calculating parking duration accurately and minimising wait times,” the mall said in a statement.
Parking Payment Guide
There are multiple ways to pay the mall’s parking fees - through the Parkonic portal or via Salik, the road toll operator in Dubai.
“The Parkonic app allows motorists to register their vehicle, top up their wallet, find available parking spaces before arrival, manage their account, and settle payments easily,” the mall said.
Shoppers can either pay via the app or by scanning a QR code displayed at the mall. App users have the option to load up an e-wallet, from which charges are automatically deducted.
“If a customer settles their parking fee before exiting … the parking session will automatically close upon departure,” the mall said.
If no payment is made in advance, however, the parking fee will be deducted directly from the visitor’s Salik wallet upon exit.
“If the linked Salik wallet has insufficient funds, the motorist will have a five-day grace period to top up and clear the dues.”
Asked how pending payments are tracked and charged, the mall said: “This would work (in the same way) as the Salik notifications when one visits or crosses Salik gates to go to Dubai. Customers get notified that [they have] crossed a Salik.”
For Dalma Mall, introducing paid parking is part of enhancing the overall customer experience.
“Over time, complimentary parking has often been misused by non-shoppers and long-term parkers, leading to congestion, reduced availability, and inconvenience for our valued customers,” it said.
“By implementing a smart, fair paid parking system, we are safeguarding convenient, secure and reliable parking for genuine shoppers and visitors.”
