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Mall parking fee in Abu Dhabi irks customers

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Two malls in Capital impose charges to discourage nearby office goers

Published: Sun 14 Dec 2014, 12:31 AM

Updated: Wed 8 Feb 2023, 3:32 PM

  • By
  • Olivia Olarte-ulherr - Senior Reporter, Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi: The new parking fee structure introduced by two of the Capital’s malls are causing furore among residents here.

The World Trade Centre (WTC) Mall in particular, which started charging parking fees from customers last month, has upset many of its customers for what many deemed as unfair and steep.

Al Wahda Mall charges up to Dh350 for overnight parking. — KT photo by Shoaib Anwer

“I went in at about 10am two weeks ago to shop at WTC mall and when I left at around 2.30pm, I was told by the attendant at the exit that I need to pay Dh20. I was surprised and at the same time annoyed, I think that was too much,” complained Lina David from Thailand.

Viktoria Parry from Hungary who takes her 10-month-old son to Koolkidz for baby classes was equally upset.

“I am so upset about it especially since I shop here; I also meet my friends and eat here. Last time I had to pay Dh40 for parking so today I came early, drove around and found a Mawaqif parking outside. I paid for five hours and it’s only Dh10,” she said. “But really, if I have to pay for the class and then the parking, it’s just not fair,” she added. Celina Mcnally, leader at Koolkidz expressed the same sentiment. “Everyone is upset, the mothers, even the employees, because obviously you have to pay for the class and then pay for parking, it doesn’t make sense. And it’s not even a reasonable amount, it’s high at Dh10 (per hour),” she said adding that she pays Dh60 for parking from 8.30am to 2pm.

A mall staff said many customers have complained about the paid parking but added that they themselves have to pay Dh1,000 per year in parking fee.

The WTC Mall offers free parking for one hour in the morning before 12 noon, two hours in the afternoon and three hours in the evening and weekends. A Dh10 tariff is applied afterwards. In a statement to Khaleej Times, the WTC management explained that the decision to impose tariff in its car park was to avoid “misuse” and discourage “fly-parking” in the morning.

“The WTC Mall is at the heart of the community in an area of the city that has significant parking demand 24/7 from both retail customers, commercial tenants and residents. When we have historically provided free parking, it has led to significant misuse by all the surrounding offices and residents,” the statement said. “The one hour tariff in the morning is primarily to discourage “fly-parking” by adjacent office goers in the morning when they come to work,” it added. The WTC Mall opened in October 2013.

The Al Wahda Mall, meanwhile, enforced paid parking late September. According to its fee structure posted on its website, parking is free during the first three hours. A Dh10 fee every hour is imposed after three hours till six hours. From six to seven hours, the parking fee is Dh50; seven to eight hours Dh100; eight hours Dh150 and Dh350 for overnight parking.

Parking is free during the weekends and public holidays plus a free hour is extended for those who go to the cinema (subject to validation).Manuel Cortez from Equador said the Al Waha Mall fees are more reasonable. However, he was still dismayed when he paid Dh30 last week. “My family came to visit so I took them around the mall. We spent so much shopping, and to pay Dh30 on top of all that is just disappointing,” he said.

“The three-hour free parking is okay if you don’t intend to stay longer and just want to buy groceries or something specific. But if I want to roam around, shop, watch a movie and eat, that will be really expensive. What’s the point of going there then? I’d much rather go elsewhere where I don’t have to pay for parking,” added Nathalie, a manager of a luxury shop at Marina Mall.

Khaleej Times tried contacting the Al Wahda Mall management for comment but no one responded as of going to press time.

olivia@khaleejtimes.com



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