The paid parking timings in the Abu Dhabi city has been extended by one hour, ending at 10pm instead of 9 in the evening, Naguib Al Zarouni Director-General of Mawaqif, has announced.
According to Al Zarouni the decision was taken following complaints from the shop owners in the majority of the paid parking areas that their business was hampered due to the earlier timing.
He stressed that Mawaqif is very keen on protecting the commercial interests of the shop owners and markets and therefore modified the timings.
He said that the Department of Transport (DoT), which manages Mawaqif, hopes this amendment would have a positive impact on the movement of trade as well as traffic, stressing that the goal of the DoT is to facilitate the smooth flow of traffic and life in Abu Dhabi.
Al Zarouni denied that the extension of paid parking was intended to add more revenues to the department and put an additional burden on motorists. “The purpose is to ease congestion before and after the introduction of paid parking.”
He noted that DoT carries out regular surveys to constantly improve its services and meet the needs of the public.