Dubai: New ‘barrierless’ parking at Mall of the Emirates and City Centre Deira explained

Dubai: Two of Dubai’s most popular malls – Mall of the Emirates and City Centre Deira have introduced a ‘barrierless’ parking system. This follows an announcement made in October 2024 after a joint agreement between Majid Al Futtaim (MAF) Properties and public parking operator Parkin PJSC.

As part of the initiative, MAF and Parkin confirmed plans to implement ‘barrierless’ paid parking at Mall of the Emirates, City Centre Deira, and City Centre Mirdif.

The new system is already in place at City Centre Deira and will soon be activated at Mall of the Emirates. According to the Mall of the Emirates website, parking barriers have been removed to facilitate a smoother and more efficient entry and exit experience for visitors.

How does it work?
According to the Parkin website, the new system uses automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) technology to track parking duration. Upon entering the mall, cameras at the entrances scan the vehicle’s licence plate, recording the time of entry. When exiting, if the free parking period has been exceeded, a notification is sent to the mobile number linked to the vehicle, detailing any charges.

Visitors can settle any parking fees via the Parkin app or website (parkin.ae) after leaving the mall. Accepted payment methods include Apple Pay, credit cards, the Parkin wallet, and WhatsApp payments integrated with Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA).
Parking charges
According to the announcement made in 2024, parking fees at the three Majid Al Futtaim (MAF) malls remain unchanged. City Centre Mirdif continues to offer free parking, while the following charges apply at Mall of the Emirates and City Centre Deira:

Mall of the Emirates
Free – Up to 4 hours

Dh20 – 4 to 5 hours

Dh40 – 6 to 7 hours

Dh80 – 7 to 8 hours

Dh100 – Over 8 hours

Dh200 – Overnight parking (2am to 6am)

Free parking on weekends (Saturday and Sunday)

City Centre Deira
Free – Up to 3 hours

Dh20 – 3 to 4 hours

Dh40 – 4 to 5 hours

Dh60 – 5 to 6 hours

Dh100 – 6 to 7 hours

Dh150 – 7 hours and above

Dh350 – Overnight parking (4am to 6am)

Can you get parking validated?
If you make purchases at Mall of the Emirates, you can extend your parking for the day by validating your ticket at the Mall’s customer service desk, the VOX customer service desk or the parking management office.
Once validated, any parking charges will be adjusted, and a fee notification will be sent to the number registered with your vehicle.

Parking fines
Visitors have a grace period of five days to complete their payment, in line with MAF’s policy. If payment is not made within two days of leaving the mall, an SMS reminder is sent, followed by a phone call on the third day. If payment is still not completed after three days, a fine of Dh150 will be applied as per UAE’s standard parking regulations.

For misuse of designated People of Determination parking spaces, fines include:
Dh1,000 for parking without a valid permit, using an expired permit, or failing to display a permit correctly.

Fines can be paid via the Parkin website or app. If you believe a fine has been issued incorrectly, you can also submit a dispute through the same platforms.