ABU DHABI, United Arab Emirates (Reuters): A new legislation in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi has made it easier to give parking permits to visitors to “residential villas.”
The Integrated Transport Centre (ITC) of Abu Dhabi’s Department of Municipalities and Transport said that it has begun implementing new changes to the issue of parking permits for visitors to residential villas.
According to a news release issued by the ITC, this will make it easier to use those parking spaces, as well as enhance convenience, increase suitability, and meet the needs of residents and tourists.
According to the ITC, if vehicles belonging to visitors to residential villas are parked before 02:00 AM, they will not be penalized under the new standards, which are in force in 77 sectors around the emirate.
If they wish to extend their visit and park their vehicles after this hour, they must send a text message for each vehicle separately to receive a parking permit.
At the same time, the ITC updated its systems to allow UAE nationals, including villa residents, to add new phone numbers to the ‘Mawaqif’ system so that SMS could be sent and daily permits for visitors’ vehicles could be issued. Everyone will be able to acquire daily visitor’s cards after 02:00 a.m.
The villa owner or tenant can add their phone numbers to the ‘Mawaqif’ system by phoning the Department of Municipalities and Transport’s Service Support Centre on toll-free number 800850. They can also text the number 3009 using the format (space space), for example, Add 050123456 E10).
Residents are not required to take any action if visitors arrive before 2:00 a.m., according to the ITC, as long as the vehicles are properly parked.
If visitors stay past 02:00 a.m., the resident must SMS each vehicle from any of the numbers listed in the ‘Mawaqif’ system, asking for a daily visitor’s permit for the vehicle.
Visitors’ permits for vehicles are provided in two forms to Villa inhabitants. The ‘Events Permit’ can be obtained by calling the system’s call centre at the number provided.
The request for a ‘visitor permit’ must be made by the villa permit holder using the phone number recorded in the Mawaqif System in the following manner: (space space space). For example, the maximum validity of the permit shall be six hours from the time the request is received, between the hours of 02.00 AM and 08.00 AM.
Parking permits for non-UAE national visitors are calculated using the system price for standard parking, which is AED2 per hour, and are supplied free of charge by the ITC to UAE nationals who own or rent a villa.
The cost of each text message is determined by the service provider’s rates. The same criteria and conditions apply to villa visitors’ permits under the ‘Mawaqif’ system, including Fridays and public holidays.
If villa parking spaces are being used by unknown cars, or in a manner that obstructs traffic and pedestrians, or restricts the entrances and exits of the villas, the ITC recommends homeowners to contact the Department of Municipalities and Transport’s Service Support Centre on the toll-free number 800850.
According to the ITC, in 2021, there were 871,132 requests for visitor parking permits at residential villas, spread throughout 77 sectors covered by the residential villa parking system, including 65 in Abu Dhabi and 12 in Al Ain.
