Dubai parks deny free entry to people of determination, aides

Despite free entry for people of determination and two companions to the public parks across Dubai, residents have reported that they are being charged at the gates.
The Dubai Municipality had last year exempted people of determination and two companions from paying entry fees at public parks including Children's City and the Dolphinarium.
Yet, some park visitors are being asked to buy Nol card, a smart system now compulsory to access parks, to cover their families including people of determination members, with some residents reporting that gatekeepers are unaware of the rules that involve the special needs segment.
Meena Mohammed, mother of a boy of determination, said the gatekeeper at Zabeel Park refused to let her son in for free and asked the family to buy a Dh25 green Nol card since they did not carry their own.
After showing the gatekeeper her son's card for people of determination and repeatedly reminding her that the special visitors are allowed in for free with two people, the gatekeeper referred Mohammed to the security guard claiming that park staff "haven't been informed about the rules".
Mohammed said the security guard then allowed only one parent in for free with her son.
Driving her car into Al Mamzar Park, Abeer Ismail said she is sometimes charged Dh5 or Dh10 upon entry, instead of the normal Dh30 car entry fee, after she points to disabled permit sticker on her vehicle.
"Sometimes they let me in for free. I am aware that people of determination are allowed in for free, but sometimes my car is being charged with varying prices," said Ismail, a mother of a Down Syndrome child, who received her special parking permit on her vehicle last year.
Person of determination Zara Hamad once visited Creek Park with her parents only to be stopped at the gate to pay. "When I asked the gatekeeper if we can go in for free as per the rules, she refused. I showed her my people of determination card, but she insisted on making my parents buy a Dh25 Nol card," said Hamad. She added determined visitors had to show news articles of the announcement to gatekeepers. "It seems like gatekeepers are not informed about the rules, since there has been similar confusions happening to other families with people of determination."
The Dubai Municipality has recorded over 4.2 million visitors who used the smart gates installed at four public parks to allow people direct access through using Nol card, the system used in all modes of public transport across Dubai.
People of determination can register their complaints through 800900.
sherouk@khaleejtimes.com

• UAE
• Dubai