Sharjah extends paid parking timings until 12 midnight in 7-day zones

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

The Sharjah City Municipality outlined amendments to the operational hours of public parking facilities within the areas subject to fees. These facilities, which are identified by blue signage, will now be open from 8 am until 12 midnight, effective from the first of November. This initiative aims to enhance the availability of parking for residents of these areas who have subscribed to the seasonal parking service, as well as for visitors from the local customer base and individuals engaged in commercial activities.

It is noteworthy that the operational hours of other public parking facilities will remain unchanged, operating from 8 am until 10 pm. However, during the holy month of Ramadan, the new operational hours will be observed.

Hamed Al Qaed, Director of the Public Parking Department, explained that the emirate is witnessing a significant increase in tourist, commercial and residential activity, which is contributing to its global standing. Therefore, the provision of public parking spaces and the imposition of fees to access them serves to align with the broader context of the city's renaissance. It also reflects the role of the municipality in regulating and monitoring the use of these spaces, particularly in relation to any potential misuse. Furthermore, it is important to note that the Sharjah City Municipality has developed a comprehensive annual plan which outlines the preparation of public parking spaces and their subsequent subjection to fees across various areas of the city, with a particular focus on those deemed to be of vital importance.

He stated that the new timing of the parking spaces was the result of studies and follow-ups of the public's observations and reports about encroachment on parking spaces and their negative exploitation after 10 pm. Furthermore, he noted that comparisons had been made with other cities that operate a similar parking system. He also highlighted that, in line with the economic growth that has made Sharjah one of the cities that witness continuous movement until late at night, there is a need to organise vehicle parking spaces for longer periods that are consistent with this growth and meet the needs of visitors to these areas and residents living there. He also noted that residents are suffering from difficulty in obtaining parking spaces for vehicles after 10 pm.

Those who have purchased a seasonal subscription and customers of the restaurant and cafeteria alike often find it challenging to locate a parking space after 10 p.m. This can be a source of concern for them prior to returning home, particularly given the dearth of available parking spaces at that time. This often necessitates a lengthy search for a suitable spot, which can be inconvenient and time-consuming.

He also asserted that the proposed alteration to the timing of the parking service would not result in an increase in the fees associated with the subscription service. The price will remain unchanged. Subscribers to the parking service will be granted two additional hours of parking time each day. This is a modification from the previous exemption from parking fees for 14 hours, which will now be extended to 16 hours.

He further stated that a survey was conducted by the municipality on the possibility of extending the working hours of public parking spaces in tourist and vital places. The purpose of the survey was to ascertain the public's opinion on the proposed amendment. The results of the survey indicated a significant level of support for amending the timing, which will enable a large proportion of the public to obtain a parking space. This indicates that the new timing will allow seasonal subscription holders to obtain vacant parking spaces until 12 midnight.

It was highlighted that the municipality is engaged in efforts to disseminate information to the public regarding the revised timing. This is being achieved through the use of SMSs to customers and the distribution of leaflets to vehicles in areas where public parking will be affected. The leaflets are placed on the windshields of vehicles to alert their owners.

It was observed that the municipality is persisting with its endeavours to equip all regions of Sharjah City with the requisite infrastructure to facilitate the public's access to parking facilities. In this regard, 16,000 parking lots have been designated for fees since the beginning of this year, bringing the total number of public parking lots subject to fees in Sharjah City to 86,000.