Update:
For 2014 Ramadan parking times in Abu Dhabi,
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. For Dubai,
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DUBAI // Transport officials have changed the evening timings for paid parking during Ramadan. Paid parking in Dubai will last from 7pm until midnight, compared with the current 4pm to 9pm period. The morning period of paid parking will remain unchanged from 8am to 1pm, meaning that parking will be free from 1pm until 7pm. The changes were announced to discourage people from leaving cars in parking areas for long periods at night when traffic increases after Iftar.
"Revising the parking timing in the evening session was intended to ease the pressure on parking users in the afternoon up to Iftar time," said Mattar al Tayer, the chairman and executive director of the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA). "The movement of the public within markets and business districts during Ramadan shifts from daytime to the period after Iftar. Thus, it was inevitable to take a decision that goes in parallel with the commercial activity in the emirate, to ensure availability of parking space for the public during and after Iftar."
Ahmed Shabeer, who owns a photographic studio in Al Quoz, said: "The change in timings is a good thing because everyone steps out in the evenings [during Ramadan]. Many people just leave their cars in parking lots, then it gets very busy and there is a pressure on space." The RTA also confirmed an earlier announcement that Metro timings would be extended to 1am from August 6 to September 12. Trains will run from 6am to 1am on Saturday to Thursday and from 2pm to 1am on Friday. The trains currently run until 11pm from Saturday to Thursday and up to midnight on Friday.
"The decision also takes into consideration the movement of people, which soars after Iftar and Taraweeh prayers and continues late into the night," Mr al Tayer said. The Metro opened last September, with 21 stations now open on the Red Line and eight more due to open. newsdesk@thenational.ae
