Picture for illustrative purposes only. ARCHIVE

Motorists in Abu Dhabi will need to start paying for parking in additional commercial sectors of Mohammed Bin Zayed City starting on May 6, as Q Mobility expands the paid parking system in the area. Q Mobility announced on Wednesday (April 29) that the third phase of the parking activation will cover commercial sectors ME9 and ME12 under the regulatory supervision of the Integrated Transport Centre (ITC) of the Department of Municipalities and Transport. The move is part of Abu Dhabi’s wider expansion plan for paid parking, aimed at regulating parking usage, reducing congestion, addressing traffic challenges, and improving mobility for residents, workers and visitors. Under the new system, standard parking spaces will cost Dh2 per hour. Motorists can pay using several digital channels, including the Darb and TAMM applications, SMS services, or payment machines installed in the area. Authorities said the activation targets high-density commercial zones where increasing business activity and heavy daily vehicle movement have led to parking congestion and random parking. The third phase includes a total of 10,205 parking spaces, with 3,219 spaces in sector ME9 and 6,986 spaces in sector ME12. The allocation also includes designated parking spaces for People of Determination. Mohammed Bin Zayed City is one of the emirate’s busiest residential and commercial districts, with high daily traffic volumes due to the large number of employees and visitors commuting to the area. The first phase of parking regulation began on December 15, 2025 and initially covered sectors ME9, ME10, ME11 and ME12 free of charge. The second phase started on April 6, introducing paid parking in sectors ME10 and ME11, along with main street commercial areas in villa zones Z17-01, Z19, Z20 and Z27. Officials said the phased rollout has already contributed to better traffic flow and improved parking organisation in high-demand areas. ICA/Expat Media
For all the latest news from the UAE and the world, follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and subscribe to our YouTube page