Paid parking begins at two Abu Dhabi malls from July 18: Here’s what you need to know
ANPR cameras installed to enable seamless ticketless entry and exit
ABU DHABI: Paid parking will come into effect at two popular malls in Abu Dhabi – Dalma Mall and Al Wahda Mall – starting Friday, July 18.
Parkonic, the private parking solutions company managing the systems, has confirmed the launch of a ticketless and cashless system enabled through automatic number-plate recognition (ANPR) cameras.
These cameras read vehicle licence plates upon entry and link them to the respective payment method.
Dalma Mall charges
At Dalma Mall, parking will remain free for the first three hours on weekdays (Monday to Friday). During weekends and public holidays, parking will be free all day.
Once the weekday free period ends, motorists will be charged Dh10 per hour. Payment will be processed automatically via Salik, Dubai’s road toll operator. The fee will be directly deducted from the vehicle owner’s Salik account upon exit – no ticket, cash, or manual payment required.
Al Wahda Mall update
The ANPR system is also operational at Al Wahda Mall, but the parking charges are yet to be announced. Once introduced, Salik will not be used as a payment method. Instead, visitors will be able to make payments via the Parkonic mobile app, website, or through kiosks placed inside the mall.
Drivers are advised to stay tuned for updates regarding the fee structure and timings for Al Wahda Mall parking.
Expanding smart parking
The initiative is part of a broader rollout of smart parking across UAE shopping centres, tourist zones, and business hubs. Parkonic and Salik’s collaboration extends to Dubai locations including Golden Mile Galleria, The Town Mall in Jebel Ali and DIP, Dubai Sports City, and The Palm Monorail.
This system, which removes barriers and ticket machines, enables a frictionless experience for drivers – enter, park, shop, and exit – without delays or queues. Vehicle plates are scanned automatically, and charges are processed based on the length of stay.
The smart parking upgrade aligns with Abu Dhabi’s upcoming launch of an AI-powered public parking system, which will offer real-time data, automated payments, and space occupancy detection.