Paying for parking in Dubai just became easier.

Motorists using the new Harbour West Car Park at Dubai Harbour can now pay parking charges directly through their Salik account, eliminating the need for paper tickets, cash or payment machines.

The new service, launched through a partnership between Salik and Shamal in collaboration with Parkonic, came into effect on July 13.

Here’s what drivers need to know.

How does the new Salik parking system work?

The system uses automatic number plate recognition (ANPR) technology to identify your vehicle when you enter and exit the car park.

Instead of taking a ticket or paying before leaving, the parking fee is automatically charged to your linked Salik account.

The process is completely contactless and requires no manual payment.

Where can you use it?

The service is currently available at the new Harbour West Car Park in Dubai Harbour.

The nine-storey facility offers:

• 845 parking spaces
• Rooftop parking
• Easy access to Dubai Harbour attractions

Who will benefit?

The car park is expected to serve visitors travelling to:

• Dubai Harbour
• Dubai Marina
• Marina Walk
• Jumeirah Beach Residence (JBR)
• Dubai Media City
• Dubai Internet City

The location is designed to accommodate both residents and tourists visiting one of Dubai’s busiest waterfront districts.

What are the benefits for drivers?

Using Salik for parking offers several advantages:

• No paper parking tickets.
• No cash payments.
• No waiting at payment machines.
• Faster entry and exit.
• Automatic payment through your Salik account.
• A smoother parking experience.

The system also helps reduce queues and improves traffic flow within the parking facility.

Is Salik becoming more than a toll system?

Yes.

While Salik is best known for collecting road tolls across Dubai, the company is gradually expanding into a broader digital mobility platform.

The addition of parking payments is part of Salik’s strategy to offer integrated transport and payment services beyond toll gates.

The partnership supports Dubai’s ambition to become one of the world’s smartest cities by making everyday transport services more seamless and digital.

For drivers, it means fewer payment steps, quicker exits from parking facilities and a more convenient experience, whether commuting or visiting popular destinations around Dubai Harbour.

The Palm Monorail has officially resumed operations after a six-month maintenance closure, once again providing residents and tourists with a quick and convenient way to travel across Palm Jumeirah.

The operator announced the reopening on social media, confirming that services are back on track following planned maintenance work that began in January.

The reopening restores an important transport link connecting some of Dubai’s most popular attractions, hotels and residential communities.

Route and stations

The elevated 5.5-kilometre monorail runs from Gateway Station at the entrance of Palm Jumeirah to Atlantis Aquaventure, with stops at several key destinations along the way.

Stations include:

• Gateway Station
• Palm Jumeirah Mall
• Al Ittihad Park
• Golden Mile Galleria
• Atlantis Aquaventure

The journey provides easy access to shopping centres, beachfront resorts, entertainment venues and residential areas across the island.

Journey time

A complete trip from Gateway Station to Atlantis Aquaventure takes approximately nine minutes.

Travel time between individual stations is around three minutes, making it one of the fastest ways to get around Palm Jumeirah.

Ticket prices

Passengers can choose from several ticket options.

Current fares include:

• Single journey: Dh10
• Return ticket: Dh15

Family packages and unlimited travel passes are also available.

Tickets can be purchased online or through the Palm Monorail’s official booking channels.

Operating hours

The Palm Monorail operates daily with trains running every 15 minutes.

From Gateway Station:

• First train: 9am
• Last train: 9am

From Atlantis Aquaventure:

• First train: 9:15am
• Last train: 10am

With affordable fares, frequent departures and direct access to major attractions, the Palm Monorail service is expected to ease travel across one of Dubai’s most visited destinations.

Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) is transforming the way residents and visitors pay for public transport.

The familiar nol card is evolving into a smarter, digital payment system that will support QR tickets, digital wallets, bank cards and a new generation of nol cards.

The upgrade is expected to roll out in phases beginning in 2027, making public transport payments faster, more flexible and more convenient.

What is changing?

The current card-based ticketing system will be replaced with account-based ticketing (ABT).

Instead of storing your travel balance only on the physical card, your balance and travel information will be linked to a secure digital account.

This means you can access your travel account across multiple devices and payment methods without relying solely on a single plastic card.

How will you be able to pay?

Once the new system is fully launched, commuters will have several payment options, including:

• QR code tickets
• Upgraded nol cards
• Bank debit and credit cards
• Smartphone digital wallets
• Linked customer accounts

The aim is to give passengers greater flexibility while reducing queues and making travel across Dubai more seamless.

Three phases of the nol upgrade

Phase 1: QR ticketing

The first stage will introduce QR code tickets through digital platforms, allowing passengers to purchase and use tickets electronically.

Phase 2: new-generation nol cards

A redesigned nol card will be introduced with enhanced technology.

The upgraded cards will:

• Link automatically to customer accounts.
• Be compatible with bank card technology.
• Support improved security and easier account management.

Phase 3: Bank cards and digital wallets

Passengers will be able to pay directly using:

• Debit cards
• Credit cards
• Apple Pay
• Google Wallet
• Samsung Wallet and other supported digital payment platforms

This means many commuters may no longer need to carry a separate transport card.

What new features will users get?

The upgraded system will introduce several account management features, including:

• Create a personal nol account.
• Link multiple nol cards to one account.
• Add nol cards to smartphone wallets.
• Buy transport tickets using QR codes.
• View travel history and daily transaction statements.
• Block lost or stolen cards.
• Recover remaining balances.
• Enable automatic top-ups through linked bank accounts.

Families will also be able to link multiple nol cards under one account and manage top-up amounts for each family member.

Will nol cards be used for shopping?

Yes.

One of the biggest changes is that future nol cards are expected to function similarly to bank cards, allowing users to make purchases through digital channels and at participating retail outlets across the UAE.

This expands the card’s use beyond public transport.

Will public transport fares change?

The RTA has confirmed that the upgraded platform will support more flexible fare structures across different modes of transport.

However, no new fare prices or tariff changes have been announced.

When will the new system launch?

According to the RTA, the project is already 72% complete.

The rollout will begin in phases during 2027, with new features becoming available progressively.

Why is Dubai upgrading nol System?

The upgrade is part of Dubai’s broader Cashless Strategy, which aims to make digital payments the standard across government services and daily life.

It also supports the city’s vision of creating a smarter, more connected transport network by integrating multiple transport services into one seamless payment ecosystem.

For commuters, the changes mean greater convenience, fewer physical cards to carry, and a faster, more flexible travel experience across Dubai’s public transport system.