Majid Al Futtaim assures shoppers and motorists that there are no plans to raise parking fees at three of Dubai’s popular malls despite the implementation of a new parking system.
Majid Al Futtaim, which operates a number of prominent malls in Dubai, confirmed on Thursday that parking fees will not increase at Mall of the Emirates, City Centre Deira, and City Centre Mirdif. This comes after the conglomerate signed a five-year deal with Parkin, the largest provider of public parking facilities in Dubai, to introduce a barrierless parking system starting January 2025.
Khalifa Bin Braik, CEO of Majid Al Futtaim Asset Management, clarified, “Importantly, the fees have not changed. We’re not looking at an increase in fees.” He added that Mall of the Emirates will continue to offer free parking for the first four hours, while City Centre Deira will maintain its three-hour free parking, with the option to validate the ticket if a shopper makes a purchase.
Bin Braik also confirmed that parking at City Centre Mirdif will remain completely free. The current VIP parking barriers at the mall will be removed when the new system is implemented.
“The main objective of the deal with Parkin is to better manage and regulate parking. The charges will remain as they are,” he reiterated. Bin Braik emphasized their commitment to maintaining “a very transparent and consistent pricing model.”
Road Infrastructure Improvements
Majid Al Futtaim has a portfolio of 29 shopping malls across five countries, with Mall of the Emirates as its flagship project. In collaboration with the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), the company is working on major road upgrades around the mall, including the construction of a flyover for direct access from Abu Dhabi.
These road improvements are expected to ease traffic flow, particularly given the anticipated 15-20% increase in vehicle traffic at Mall of the Emirates. Bin Braik mentioned, “On weekdays, we have an average of 30,000 cars using our parking facilities, and the number rises to 36,000 on weekends.”
The flyover will save time for Abu Dhabi motorists, cutting down a 10-minute journey to the mall, significantly enhancing convenience for visitors.
Improved Parking Experience with Barrierless Technology
The new barrierless parking technology from Parkin will streamline the entry and exit process. Cameras will capture license plates to track vehicle movement and time spent in the parking lot. This system is expected to reduce congestion and queue times, particularly during busy weekends and holidays.
Bin Braik explained, “The barrierless parking will eliminate the need to stop and get a ticket, and then again eliminate the delays that usually happen on exits.” He added that consumers could save anywhere from 20 seconds to a few minutes per trip, allowing them to spend more time at the mall.
In conclusion, Majid Al Futtaim’s CEO emphasized their ongoing commitment to enhancing customer experience, saying, “Going forward, we can look at other players for our other assets that have the technology and put consumers at the centre of everything we do.”
