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Park your woes with new online parking service

Dubai - With his start-up Park Key - that has 400 parking spots across Dubai and Sharjah - Adnan Masood hopes to solve the perennial problem of finding parking

"Parking is my most favourite topic, so you have to stop me," says Adnan Masood, CEO of Adza Digital, and the man behind Park Key, an online marketplace for finding parking spots in UAE. "We connect parking seekers with parking providers," says the former director of marketing of du telecom.
After finishing school in his home city, Islamabad, Pakistani, Masood, 41, did university in Sydney, and lived there for 10 years before moving to Dubai in 2009. "When I first came here, I didn't know the market, I didn't have the contacts, and I didn't have the money," says the father of three. His eldest, 11, is a fan of Steve Jobs, and even has suggestions for Park Key. One time, he told his entrepreneur dad - "Can't the boom gate have a camera that can scan the licence plate?" The apple, evidently, doesn't fall far from the tree.
Masood's background in IT and business has come in handy since his life as an entrepreneur began in November last year. The portal took off in January 2016, and as of June 2016, Park Key has over 1,000 registered users.
When we meet on a Sunday morning, close to the Burj, at a closed-for-Ramadan Caffe Di Roma in Bay Avenue, Masood pulls out his MacBook and logs on to his website - www.parkkey.com. "Our platform offers consumers choice, transparency, and convenience," he says, well into the virtual tour. Masood has a team of 15 people; 10 sit in Islamabad - the technical support guys, and he hired the rest for the UAE. "They're all under 30, very bright, and very passionate".
So, when did he decide he wanted to do something on his own? The entrepreneurial bug had been buzzing in his mind for a while, but every mid-month - when the salary landed in his account - that buzz would shush for a bit, he laughs. Then there was the matter of now or never. "Ultimately", he says, "I told myself, either forget about it or stop lying to yourself. If I keep telling myself 'next year, and next year', that means I'm lying to myself. If I was 31, I would have said maybe at 33 or 35, but if I have to do it, it has to be this year, this month... now".
"I always wanted to do something I was passionate about. This parking idea really got to me. You see, it's not a luxury issue. It's not the same as going to a beauty salon. You're always going to need to park".
Flight tickets, movie seats - now buy your parking spot online
Masood, as much as anybody else, knows what a hassle it can be to find parking. With his start-up Park Key - that has 400 parking spots across Dubai and Sharjah - he hopes to solve the problem. Parking seekers register with them, and book a bay either monthly or weekly. Parking lenders can even rent out their unused spots as well.
By the end of this year, they want to launch hourly parking, and tie up with RTA. Charges vary depending on the area. Users pay approx Dh395-Dh525 per month and a security deposit of Dh200.
What happens if you book a spot and someone swerves into yours? All minor operational issues easily resolved, says Masood. "We don't guarantee a particular bay, but we guarantee a parking spot," he says. "You can even choose a covered parking for your car," he says, "and create a free alert if parking is not available, and we'll address that." Park Key is aiming to open in Kuwait and Qatar early next year.
Park Key user Zachary Jones told Khaleej Times he'd been using the service for a month, and found it "very convenient." He plans to continue booking his monthly spot online. All transactions are via credit cards, including refunds of the Dh200 security deposit.
Another user, Jaclyn (last name anonymity requested) who commutes to Deira several times a week says she "saves a great deal of time" by booking a spot online.
nivriti@khaleejtimes.com