Round-The-Clock Paid Parking in Abu Dhabi
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Starting on 21st February, the round-the-clock paid parking system will be implemented in Abu Dhabi. You can click here to read the details of the news. It created a stir because it also includes weekends and public holidays.
Honestly, at the moment it does not bother me but since my new job obliges me to have a car, this can be a foreseen additional expenses. I am just quite lucky that my house is not located in the main streets of Abu Dhabi otherwise I really have to shell out significant amount of money. Imagine if you do not want to go out on weekends and public holidays, you are left with no option but to pay a parking fee of 24 hours or more.
According to the news, the fee will be AED 3 (USD 0.82) per hour in the main streets and AED 2 (USD 0.55) in other areas. The penalty will range from AED 200 (USD 54.80) to AED 1000 (USD 274). There is also an option for unlimited parking for residents who wants to use the designated paid parking areas and every residents are allowed only up to two permits for unlimited parking which will cost AED 800 (USD 219) for the first permit and the second will be AED 1200 (USD 329).
Parking here in Abu Dhabi is really a nightmare. It is evident when you visit the main streets as the streets are congested with cars parking on the sides and in between. One of my friend keeps whining that his “dating life” is always ruled by the availability of parking space in his building. Sometimes he needs to shorten his dinner date just to ensure that he will find parking space in the evening. Others will roam for half an hour or more just to look for parking space after office hours.
Indeed the implementation of paid parking in Abu Dhabi will somehow ease the parking problems. However, there is no doubt that the parking fee can really hurt the wallets of most car owners. Paying AED 800 for unlimited parking is not a joke.
