Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has announced free parking in the neighboring areas of the mosque for 45 minutes. Th official from RTA said, “generally we give a grace period of 45 minutes after Azhan (call to prayer) in parking areas surrounding the masjids. Inspectors, however, start their duties at sites after prayers and breaking their fast.”
It is to bear in mind this grace period is only applicable to parking areas nearby mosques and motorists must try their best to park only at the designated parking areas. Earlier, RTA introduced a new tariff for paid parking zones in Dubai for the holy month of Ramadan. According to this, all car parks will remain open Saturday to Thursday from 8am to 5pm and from 7pm to 12am.
The two hours break in paid parking has been given seeing behaviors of motorists, however, some of them are not happy with it.
“In my workplace parking is free after 6pm,” Mohammad El Fil, who works at a PR agency in Barsha Heights (formerly Tecom) told Khaleej Times. “But at home, everyone is looking for a parking space. Instead of having free parking from 5-7pm, how about 6-8pm or better yet 7-9pm, so worshippers can focus more on praying and not be distracted with getting parking tickets,” he said.