Abu Dhabi's Department of Transport tackles shortage of city centre parking

One of these short term policies is the "Abu Dhabi Parking Management Programme" which is now being managed by DoT. This programme is designed to deliver immediate or short term benefits for drivers, residents, visitors and pedestrians in key city centre locations. With four elements, each of which addresses an individual issue related to shortage of parking, the programme aims to:

- Issue legislation and guidelines to regulate the use of both public and private parking spaces; tightening control procedures and rigorous enforcement.
- Introduce charges to control parking to increase parking turn over in high-demand city centre locations; increasing the number of beneficiaries for each space,
- Introduce residents' parking schemes.
- Develop parking facilities in identified 'hot spots', with new measures to improve traffic flow and increase number of parking spaces wherever possible.
- Improve the standard of service for underground parking

The programme has been developed using the very latest sector technology, including the option to pay parking fees via mobile phone, credit card or pre-paid smart card. The smart cards can also be integrated with other payment and ticketing systems across the public transport network in future. Residents will be able to benefit from an advanced electronic licensing system, while the control and management of the entire programme is integrated into a central computer network which regulates performance across every project element.

DoT has appointed an international company specializing in service centre management and customer handling for the programme's introduction, to ensure that standards are in line with the best in the world.

Commenting on the issue, Mr. Najeeb Al Zarooni, Parking Director in Abu Dhabi Department of Transport said:

"The Department of Transport has developed a concerted and integrated programme to address shortage of parking in busy city centre areas. This programme will be introducing a series of measures, each designed to tackle the problem from a different angle. The success of the programme will be evaluated on an ongoing basis and findings used to help shape future traffic and transport policy across Abu Dhabi."

"The Abu Dhabi Parking Management Programme includes steps to stimulate change in driver behaviour; to discourage violation of parking usage regulations; to extend the number of parking places available; and to promote a fairer, more transparent system that favours residents and supports local businesses. It should not be viewed as a silver bullet by any means, but we believe that positive impacts of the programme will begin to be felt by both drivers and residents before year end."

As for long term solutions, studies are also underway to examine possible sites for the development of public car park buildings in several locations across the city centre. In coordination with other governmental entities, The DoT is now considering two options: quick built temporary parking buildings, or normal or automatic parking buildings built above or underground depending on the site location & logistics.

The full strategy to address city-wide public parking will be announced in July 2009. It will include all the above mentioned initiatives and measures in addition to timeliness for the implementation of each stage of activity. This strategy has been developed in line with the Government's vision and future plans to develop the city. It is an essential component in ensuring that Abu Dhabi maintains its position as a modern capital that can provide high quality of life and a healthy environment for locals, residents and visitors.