Dubai to introduce 24-hour paid parking around mosques, free during prayer times

Dubai: Parkin Company will begin managing and operating 2,100 parking spaces across 59 mosques in Dubai, the company announced. The rollout of 24-hour paid parking services will start in August, with worshippers able to park free of charge for one hour during prayer times.

The parking spaces will be classified under Zone M (standard) and Zone MP (premium). Outside of prayer hours, fees will apply 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Standard Zone M parking will cost Dh2 for half an hour and Dh4 per hour. Zone MP spaces will have a premium tariff of Dh2 for half an hour and Dh4 per hour during off-peak hours, rising to Dh3 for half an hour and Dh6 per hour during peak hours.

Of the 59 mosques included in the agreement, 41 are located in Zone M, while 18 are designated as Zone MP.

Parkin, Dubai’s largest paid parking operator, signed a revenue-sharing agreement with the Islamic Affairs & Charitable Activities Department (IACAD) to manage the sites. The partnership is aimed at reducing misuse of parking spaces and adds to Parkin’s growing private parking portfolio, which will expand to 20,800 spaces.

The company indicated the contract would generate a modest profit but is not expected to materially impact its overall financial performance. Parkin currently manages around 209,000 paid parking spaces across Dubai and also operates 19,000 developer-owned spaces through partnership agreements.

Officials noted that the initiative could be extended to additional mosques in the future as part of IACAD’s wider portfolio.