Salik boards come up near entrances, elevators; Dubai Mall paid parking from first of July
The icon of the city is no longer free. Before, you could stroll endlessly for hours without a care in the world – but now the stress of ‘how many hours have I been in the mall for?’ will creep into our heads. Dubai Mall has officially started to integrate its new paid parking system using Salik technologies. The news of Dubai Mall converting to paid parking came in December 2023. The prices have not been revealed; keep reading to find out how much you need to dish out every time you visit the mall.
Boards of UAE’s road toll operator Salik have come up in several places inside and outside Dubai Mall — a day before the shopping destination is set to kick off paid parking for its visitors.
The grey and white Salik branding was placed at all parking entrances and boards. However, no visible barriers or cameras were seen at the parking areas.
From July 1, paid parking will start at Dubai Mall in cooperation with Salik Company. It will be applicable to the Grand, Cinema, and Fashion Parking. The Zabeel and Fountain View parkings will remain free for the time being.
Inside the mall, signages indicating the rates of paid parking were placed outside several elevators. The facility will remain free for four hours on weekdays and six hours on weekend. Thereafter, money will be charged for every additional hour at the mall. The charges vary from Dh20 to Dh1000 for using the parking for more than 24 hours.
According to the operators, the money will be deducted from a car’s Salik account upon exiting the parking. Cars will need a Salik tag to access and use the Dubai Mall parking. It is not immediately clear how cars without the tag will be stopped.
On Sunday evening, there were mall security guards at the entrance of all parking areas directing and re-routing cars.
How The Barrier-Free System Works
The new parking system is designed to be hassle-free. It uses vehicle plate recognition to automatically charge customers. Payments will be deducted directly from the customer’s Salik account, just like when you pass through a toll gate. According to Ibrahim Sultan Al Haddad, CEO and board member of Salik Company PJSC, this system is meant to create a seamless and convenient experience for customers by eliminating gates and barriers and reducing congestion and traffic.
How Much Will You Need To Pay?
The cost of parking at Dubai Mall will depend on how long you stay. Here’s a breakdown of the charges:
Weekdays (Monday to Thursday):
- 0 to 4 hours: Free
- 4 to 5 hours: AED 40
- 5 to 6 hours: AED 60
- 6 to 7 hours: AED 80
- 8 to 12 hours: AED 100
- 12 to 24 hours: AED 500
- Over 24 hours: AED 1,000
Weekends (Friday to Sunday):
- 0 to 6 hours: Free
- 6 to 7 hours: AED 80
- 7 to 8 hours: AED 100
- 8 to 12 hours: AED 200
- 12 to 24 hours: AED 500
- Over 24 hours: AED 1,000
Parking will be free for the first four hours on weekdays and for the first six hours on weekends, including public holidays.
Where Does The Fee Apply?
The parking fees will apply to Grand parking, Cinema parking, and Fashion parking areas. However, Zabeel and Fountain Views parking areas will remain free for the time being.
Exemptions
Certain groups are exempt from these parking fees, including:
- People of determination
- Public service providers (police, ambulance, emergency response vehicles, Civil Defense, etc.)
- Valet drop-offs
With this new system, Dubai Mall aims to improve the parking experience by making it more efficient and reducing traffic congestion, all while ensuring that the process remains seamless and user-friendly.
