Dubai: Paid parking, using the Salik toll system, will be introduced at the Dubai Mall with effect from July 1.
The initiative has been taken to ease parking woes at one of the world’s most visited malls in Dubai.
Starting from July 1, a new parking and billing system will go live at The Dubai Mall, one of the world's biggest shopping destinations with annual visitor numbers of 100 million plus. The parking system will be operated by Salik, the Dubai Financial Market (DFM)-listed road-toll operator.
"This new system will improve parking availability and streamline the process, ensuring a more convenient and efficient visit for all guests," said a statement from Emaar, the operator of the mall.
Seamless parking payment
According to Ahmed Almatrooshi of Emaar, "We are pleased to introduce a seamless parking payment solution at Dubai Mall. This initiative aligns with our commitment to enhancing the guest experience by leveraging innovative technologies, in collaboration with Salik.
"This collaboration highlights our dedication to continually improving our services and setting new benchmarks in retail and leisure."
Emaar had already put out the rate cards for visitors making use of the parking spaces at the mall. On weekdays, the first four hours will be free of charge, and it extends to first six hours on weekends.
Why the paid parking
The introduction of 'paid parking aims to free up spaces', according to Emaar, and 'ensuring guests can find parking more quickly and easily'. "By investing in a more structured system, the mall can better cater to visitor needs, reaffirming its commitment to world-class services," the Dubai developer added.
For those staying around at the Mall for longer for over 8 to 12 hours - need to shell out Dh200 and Dh500, whether it's on a weekday or weekend.
Those who park overnight at the Mall will have to pay Dh1,000.
Once the vehicle exits, the billing will be done seamlessly on the Salik account associated with it.
Parking areas
The new Salik paid parking system at Dubai Mall applies to these areas - the 'Grand Parking', Cinema Parking, and Fashion Parking. The Zabeel and Fountain Views parking locations 'will remain complimentary'.