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Now, an app to make parking in Dubai stress-free

In its pilot phase, the RTA will instal parking sensors on Shaikh Zayed Road over a section stretching from Crown Plaza Hotel to Shangri La Hotel.

An official of the Roads and Transport Authority explaining the new system to help motorists find parking spaces faster. 
— KT photo by Leslie Pableo

Finding a parking space will no longer be a time-consuming and stressful affair in Dubai. Senior officials at Dubai’s Road and Transport Authority (RTA) are testing a new system to help motorists find parking spots faster.

In its pilot phase, the RTA will instal parking sensors on Shaikh Zayed Road over a section stretching from Crown Plaza Hotel to Shangri La Hotel. Motorists will get instant data on the number of parking spaces available in the area through a mobile app.

“These sensors will be installed in more than 230 parking spaces and a mobile app will help users find out which parking spaces are available. People will be able to find out before leaving their homes whether a certain area has parking spaces (available),” said Ahmad Hashem Behroozian, CEO of RTA’s Licensing Agency.

Parking zones in Dubai have unique numbers. Once a user enters the unique parking zone number, the app will display total parking spaces allotted by the RTA and how many of them are vacant at the time. The app refreshes parking data every two minutes. “If the pilot phase is successful, we will include more zones across Dubai. At this point, we will not show individual parking spaces and ... give overall information about the parking lot,” he explained.

The RTA is also hoping to extend the service to multi-storey parking lots like the ones in Al Ghubaiba and Naif, which are known to be extremely busy during business hours.

“We have five multi-storey parking lots under the RTA and this project will be extended to these areas once the pilot phase is completed. Shopping malls in Dubai which already have parking sensors may soon be a part of the initiative. If the malls can share their parking data with the RTA, we will be able to include their parking lots in the parking app which will be helpful,” added Behroozian.

Once launched, the Smart Parking app will be compatible on android and iOS devices.— muaz@khaleejtimes.com