Drivers visiting Sharjah’s Aljada will now pay for parking in selected areas after a new smart parking system went live on July 15.

Launched by Parkin in partnership with Arada, the system uses Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) technology, allowing motorists to enter and exit without tickets or barriers. Parking fees are paid digitally through Parkin’s payment channels.

Where is paid parking available?

The new system covers selected parking locations across Aljada, including:

• On-street parking along East Boulevard
• Designated off-street parking lots
• Retail parking at The Boulevard, Tiraz, and Misk

How much does parking cost?

Parking charges vary depending on where you park:

East Boulevard (On-street parking)

• Dh6.30 per hour (including VAT)
• Operates 24 hours a day

Off-street parking

• Dh4.20 per hour (including VAT)
• Charged from 8am to midnight

Retail parking

Visitors parking at The Boulevard, Tiraz and Misk receive:

• First two hours free
• Dh10 per hour after the free period

What about residents?

Residents will continue using their allocated parking spaces, while any additional parking will be charged under the new tariff. Seasonal subscriptions will also be available for eligible parking areas.

The rollout marks Parkin’s first operation in Sharjah, expanding beyond Dubai as the company grows its smart parking network.

The ticketless system is designed to improve parking availability and traffic flow across Aljada, one of Sharjah’s fastest-growing mixed-use destinations, which attracts residents, students, workers and visitors throughout the day.

If you’ve ever fumbled for a parking ticket while leaving City Walk or queued at a payment machine, those days are over.

Dubai’s popular lifestyle destination has rolled out a barrierless, ticketless parking system, allowing motorists to drive in and out without collecting a ticket or stopping to pay before exiting.

The new system, introduced by Parkin, uses automatic number plate recognition technology to record when vehicles enter and leave the parking facility, making the entire process faster and more convenient.

How the new parking system works

Instead of paper tickets and exit barriers, cameras identify your vehicle when you enter and exit City Walk.

Parking fees are calculated automatically based on the length of your stay.

If you have a Parkin account, the fee is deducted automatically. Visitors without an account, or those with insufficient balance, will receive a payment link to complete the transaction digitally.

The move is part of Dubai’s wider shift towards smart mobility and cashless services.

Parking charges at City Walk

Visitors can still enjoy one hour of free parking at City Walk.

After the complimentary period, parking is charged at:

• Dh5 per hour, or part of an hour.

For visitors heading to The Boulevard, a different tariff applies.

The first 30 minutes are free, after which parking costs Dh20 per hour. According to City Walk, these charges are automatically deducted through the visitor’s Salik account.

How to get free parking

Visitors spending Dh50 or more at participating outlets can receive up to three hours of complimentary parking.

To claim the benefit, shoppers and diners must validate their parking at the participating retailer before leaving.

Parking validation is also available for eligible visitors at attractions including Roxy Cinemas, The Green Planet and selected participating outlets.

Part of a growing smart parking network

City Walk is the latest destination to embrace ticketless parking as Dubai continues expanding digital payment solutions across the city.

Earlier, Parkin announced a five-year agreement with Al Ghurair Centre to introduce a similar smart parking system.

Under that arrangement, visitors receive three hours of complimentary parking before charges apply from Monday to Saturday, while parking remains free on Sundays and public holidays.

With barrierless parking now becoming more common across Dubai, motorists can expect quicker entry and exit, fewer queues and a smoother parking experience, without the hassle of paper tickets.

Emergency warning lights and sirens are reserved for authorised vehicles such as ambulances, police patrols and civil defence units in the UAE.

While some motorists may see flashing lights as a way to move through traffic faster, using or installing them on a private vehicle without permission is a criminal offence that can lead to prison, hefty fines and the confiscation of the vehicle.

An Abu Dhabi court sentenced two men to six months in prison after one illegally used emergency warning lights on a private vehicle and the other supplied and installed the equipment without authorisation.

Here’s why the UAE takes the issue so seriously.

Emergency lights are only for authorised vehicles

Emergency warning systems are designed to help first responders reach incidents as quickly and safely as possible.

These include vehicles operated by:

• Police
• Ambulance services
• Civil Defence
• Other government emergency agencies

When road users see flashing lights or hear a siren, they are expected to give way immediately. If private vehicles were allowed to use the same equipment, it would undermine the credibility of genuine emergency responders.

Public safety can be endangered

Unauthorised use of emergency lights can create confusion on the roads.

Drivers may:

• Move aside unnecessarily.
• Brake suddenly.
• Change lanes unexpectedly.
• Mistake a private vehicle for an official emergency service.

This increases the risk of collisions and can disrupt the normal flow of traffic.

They can delay genuine emergency services

If motorists become unsure whether flashing lights belong to an authorised emergency vehicle, they may hesitate before giving way.

Even a few seconds of delay can make a difference when ambulances, police officers or firefighters are responding to life-threatening situations.

Selling or installing the equipment is also illegal

The law does not only apply to drivers.

Businesses and individuals who sell, supply or install emergency warning lights or sirens without the required approvals can also face criminal penalties.

Authorities have warned companies that they may be prosecuted if they provide such equipment for unauthorised use.

What are the penalties?

The penalties can be severe.

In a recent Abu Dhabi court case:

• A driver was sentenced to six months in prison after using a private vehicle fitted with emergency warning lights.
• The vehicle and emergency equipment were confiscated.
• A company manager who supplied and installed the equipment was also sentenced to six months in prison, fined Dh100,000, and had related equipment confiscated.

The case followed an investigation by authorities after smart surveillance systems detected a vehicle using emergency lights without authorisation.

How violations are detected

The UAE uses advanced surveillance technology and traffic monitoring systems to identify vehicles using unauthorised emergency equipment.

If a violation is detected, authorities can trace the vehicle, investigate how the equipment was obtained and take legal action against both the driver and those involved in supplying or installing the systems.

The ban on emergency lights is designed to protect public safety and preserve the integrity of emergency services. By restricting their use to authorised vehicles, the UAE ensures that motorists respond immediately to genuine emergencies and that first responders can carry out their duties without unnecessary delays or confusion.

For motorists, the message is clear: installing or using emergency warning lights on a private vehicle without official approval is not only illegal, it can also carry serious legal and financial consequences.