Beginning Saturday, motorists will be slapped with fines for violating parking rules in the Capital.
Authorities had implemented a new parking scheme that covers the entire Abu Dhabi Island on August 18. However, motorists were given a three-week grace period - which ends on August 7 - to get used to the new paid parking system, according to Department of Transport (DoT).
The DoT had introduced more than 26,000 new parking slots in various areas of the Capital under the new paid parking initiative in August.
"Motorists have to start paying for the parking spaces after the expiration of the grace period to avoid being fined," said officials.
"There are enough parking slots - double the number of residents with documented rental contracts - have been introduced in the new paid parking zones to cater for motorists."
Officials said Mawaqif is also planning to implement a smart system to monitor violators and that it will be announced shortly.
The new paid parking scheme had been rolled out across 42 areas on Abu Dhabi island including areas around Maqta Bridge, Sheikh Zayed bridge, Mussaffah bridge and the Corniche. Areas in the outskirts of Abu Dhabi Island will not be affected by the new scheme.
The DoT earlier said that the aim of implementing paid parking across Abu Dhabi Island is to make the city more organised through the provision of more and proper parking spaces to residents and families and to prevent illegal parking especially in sandy areas or on pavements.
Apply for parking permits
Residents and vehicle owners have been reminded to apply for resident parking permits before the end of the grace period so they can park freely and avoid fines.
The annual fees for residents permit for expats is Dh800 for the first permit, and Dh1,200 for the second permit.
Permits are also issued bi-annually for Dh400 for the first permit and Dh600 for the second permit, according to the remaining time of the tenant contract, or as per the tenant's request.
UAE nationals living in apartments are eligible for four free resident permits after DoT's approval.
Tenants and property owners can apply for parking permits in addition to first-degree relatives living in the same residence (father, mother, wife, children, brothers and sisters), two permits per residence. Permit should be issued specifically for the vehicle and zone where the residence is located. To get residential permit, motorists need to submit a tenancy contract along with other documents.
Authorities said that a system of new street signs has replaced the painted curbs and their colour codes, under the new paid parking scheme.
These colour codes currently represent standard parking, which costs Dh2 per hour and uses black and turquoise curbs, and premium parking, at Dh3 per hour with white and turquoise.
