Paperless Public Parking Tickets introduced in Dubai: RTA

Image: Dubai Media Office Twitter

Following the introduction of a new e-ticket system, motorists in Dubai will no longer have to display paper parking tickets on their dashboards.

As a pilot project, The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) recently launched a set of new smart parking meters that have been submitted for approval. The new ticketing system was introduced by the Dubai Media Office on its Twitter page on Monday.

This project has been developed as part of the emirate’s paperless strategy.

“(This is) an innovative solution for paying parking fees in Dubai without the need for a paper ticket,” Dubai Media Office said in a tweet. “The project which comes in line with the Dubai Paperless Strategy will be implemented in Q1, 2020.” The new touchscreen-enabled meters have been installed at Al Jafiliya, next to the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) headquarters in Dubai, as part of the RTA’s Smart Dubai project.

How is this e-ticketing system different

Unlike the old meters, the new meters require the users to key in the vehicle plate number along with the duration of parking, before selecting the payment method which could be made either through coins or cards. Once the payment is made, the machine issues a paper receipt and an e-ticket. The paper receipt is only for the user’s preference.

With vehicle details entered into the meter, the new system ensures a parking ticket is used only for one car and cannot be shared with any other vehicle.

Payment Modes

Parking payment can be made using six different methods including coins, prepaid cards, seasonal parking cards, mParking, Nol card, and smart parking.

The prepaid parking cards are available at supermarkets and grocery stores in denominations of Dh30 and Dh100. The ticket amount is deducted from the balance on the card when inserted into its slot on the machine.

Motorists can also buy seasonal parking cards valid for different zones for three months, six months and one year. Apart from paying at the meters, motorists can also use mParking which allows payment through SMS to 7275. Mobile payment can also be made through RTA’s smartphone app.

To further the Smart Dubai Initiative, RTA earlier this year also launched smart parking scanners.

Naimal Nadeem

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