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Look: No more parking barriers at Dubai's Mall of the Emirates; is the new system activated?
Remember, parking fees will remain unchanged - but there will be a new way to make payments under this system
- PUBLISHED: Tue 28 Jan 2025, 1:04 PM UPDATED: Fri 31 Jan 2025, 2:32 PM
Parking barriers have been removed and replaced with sensors at Mall of the Emirates (MOE) for the eventual implementation of 'barrierless parking'. The new paid parking system - announced in October last year - will also be implemented at two other malls in Dubai, including City Centre Deira, and City Centre Mirdif.
Drivers who pass by MOE's now-barrierless parking area are now receiving SMS that says the new system will be "enabled" on February 3. At Deira City Centre, it has already been activated, according to developer Majid Al Futtaim (MAF).
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The barrierless parking system is expected to ease access for more than 20 million cars that these three malls record every year. Overall, these three shopping centres have a total of 21,000 parking spaces.
Here's a screenshot of the SMS that one motorist received after driving through the MOE parking lot in Al Barsha:
How barrierless parking works
MAF Properties entered into a five-year contract with Parkin PJSC for the 'barrierless parking' system. Using the latter's seamless parking technology, motorists will no longer have to stop and wait at barriers when entering or exiting mall parking lots.
Advanced cameras will automatically capture licence plates, tracking each vehicle's progress and duration of stay.
As drivers enter the parking area, they will get an SMS or a Parkin app alert about the parking costs. Visitors will be able to use the app or Parkin's website to settle any charges.
“Our smart systems will reduce congestion and enable smooth traffic flow, enhancing the overall customer experience at some of the busiest and well-known retail locations in Dubai," Parkin CEO Mohamed Abdulla Al Ali said back in October last year.
No change in parking fees
Khalifa Bin Braik, CEO of Majid Al Futtaim Asset Management, also earlier told Khaleej Times that parking fees at the three malls will remain the same.
"Mall of the Emirates continues to be free for the first four hours. City Centre Deira continues to be free for the first three hours. If you stay beyond that and transact in one of our stores, you still have the option of validating your ticket and waiving off the fees," said Bin Braik
He also clarified that parking at City Centre Mirdif will remain free. “The main objective of the deal with Parkin is to better manage and regulate parking." The charges will remain as they are," he said.
This not the first barrierless parking system at a mall in Dubai. A similar system is already in place for paid parking services at some areas of Dubai Mall. The parking facility, however, is operated by Salik, and parking fees are automatically deducted from Salik user accounts.
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