Parkin, the company set up by Dubai to oversee parking operations in the emirate, has teamed up with conglomerate Majid Al Futtaim to introduce barrier-free parking systems at three malls, as it seeks to expand outside its core public operations.
The systems will be implemented at Mall of the Emirates in Al Barsha, City Centre Deira and City Centre Mirdif by January 1, 2025, under a five-year contract, Parkin said on Wednesday in a regulatory filing to the Dubai Financial Market, where its shares trade.
Parking fees at the malls will remain unchanged. The move is aimed at supporting the infrastructure for the estimated 20 million annual vehicle that park across about 21,000 parking spaces at the three malls, the company said.
The new smart systems are aimed at reducing congestion and enabling “smooth” traffic flow, “enhancing the overall customer experience at some of the busiest and well-known retail locations in Dubai”, Mohamed Al Ali, chief executive of Parkin, said.
“This strategically important agreement … underscores our ability to deliver growth outside of our core public parking market,” he said, adding that Parkin will continue to explore “attractive” partnership opportunities.
Parkin is the largest provider of paid public parking facilities and services in Dubai, operating about 200,000 paid parking spaces. The company's other revenue streams include enforcement and issuance of seasonal permits, parking reservations and other commercial activities.
The company started trading on the DFM in March, surging 30 per cent on its debut. As part of the emirate’s critical infrastructure, Parkin is central to Dubai’s growth plans, and its IPO is among a strategy of growing the emirate's financial market to Dh3 trillion ($816.8 billion).
Shares of the company have nearly doubled to date, and were up more than 2 per cent at Dh4.07 at midday trading on Wednesday.
As part of the new parking system, visitors at the three malls will no longer need to wait at the barriers when entering or exiting mall car parks. Cameras will automatically capture licence plates, tracking each vehicle’s progress and duration of stay, Parkin said.
Customers will be informed about parking costs upon entry by SMS or via Parkin’s mobile app. Parking charges can be made through Parkin’s app or its website, the statement said.
The new parking system is “one of the many smart solutions that we will introduce at our malls”, said Khalifa bin Braik, chief executive of Majid Al Futtaim's asset management unit.
Majid Al Futtaim currently owns and operates 29 shopping malls across the Middle East and Africa region.
EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBERS
Estijaba – 8001717 – number to call to request coronavirus testing
Ministry of Health and Prevention – 80011111
Dubai Health Authority – 800342 – The number to book a free video or voice consultation with a doctor or connect to a local health centre
Emirates airline – 600555555
Etihad Airways – 600555666
Ambulance – 998
Knowledge and Human Development Authority – 8005432 ext. 4 for Covid-19 queries
Who was Alfred Nobel?
The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.
- In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
- Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
- Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.
Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
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THE APPRENTICE
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Starring: Sebastian Stan, Maria Bakalova, Jeremy Strong
Rating: 3/5
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Punchy appearance
Roars of support buoyed Mr Johnson in an extremely confident and combative appearance
More coverage from the Future Forum
Dirham Stretcher tips for having a baby in the UAE
Selma Abdelhamid, the group's moderator, offers her guide to guide the cost of having a young family:
• Buy second hand stuff
They grow so fast. Don't get a second hand car seat though, unless you 100 per cent know it's not expired and hasn't been in an accident.
• Get a health card and vaccinate your child for free at government health centres
Ms Ma says she discovered this after spending thousands on vaccinations at private clinics.
• Join mum and baby coffee mornings provided by clinics, babysitting companies or nurseries.
Before joining baby classes ask for a free trial session. This way you will know if it's for you or not. You'll be surprised how great some classes are and how bad others are.
• Once baby is ready for solids, cook at home
Take the food with you in reusable pouches or jars. You'll save a fortune and you'll know exactly what you're feeding your child.
Tamkeen's offering
- Option 1: 70% in year 1, 50% in year 2, 30% in year 3
- Option 2: 50% across three years
- Option 3: 30% across five years
FIGHT%20CARD
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TUESDAY'S ORDER OF PLAY
Centre Court
Starting at 2pm:
Malin Cilic (CRO) v Benoit Paire (FRA) [8]
Not before 4pm:
Dan Evans (GBR) v Fabio Fogini (ITA) [4]
Not before 7pm:
Pablo Carreno Busta (SPA) v Stefanos Tsitsipas (GRE) [2]
Roberto Bautista Agut (SPA) [5] v Jan-Lennard Struff (GER)
Court One
Starting at 2pm
Prajnesh Gunneswaran (IND) v Dennis Novak (AUT)
Joao Sousa (POR) v Filip Krajinovic (SRB)
Not before 5pm:
Rajeev Ram (USA) and Joe Salisbury (GBR) [1] v Marin Cilic v Novak Djokovic (SRB)
Nikoloz Basilashvili v Ricardas Berankis (LTU)
More from Neighbourhood Watch
School counsellors on mental well-being
Schools counsellors in Abu Dhabi have put a number of provisions in place to help support pupils returning to the classroom next week.
Many children will resume in-person lessons for the first time in 10 months and parents previously raised concerns about the long-term effects of distance learning.
Schools leaders and counsellors said extra support will be offered to anyone that needs it. Additionally, heads of years will be on hand to offer advice or coping mechanisms to ease any concerns.
“Anxiety this time round has really spiralled, more so than from the first lockdown at the beginning of the pandemic,” said Priya Mitchell, counsellor at The British School Al Khubairat in Abu Dhabi.
“Some have got used to being at home don’t want to go back, while others are desperate to get back.
“We have seen an increase in depressive symptoms, especially with older pupils, and self-harm is starting younger.
“It is worrying and has taught us how important it is that we prioritise mental well-being.”
Ms Mitchell said she was liaising more with heads of year so they can support and offer advice to pupils if the demand is there.
The school will also carry out mental well-being checks so they can pick up on any behavioural patterns and put interventions in place to help pupils.
At Raha International School, the well-being team has provided parents with assessment surveys to see how they can support students at home to transition back to school.
“They have created a Well-being Resource Bank that parents have access to on information on various domains of mental health for students and families,” a team member said.
“Our pastoral team have been working with students to help ease the transition and reduce anxiety that [pupils] may experience after some have been nearly a year off campus.
"Special secondary tutorial classes have also focused on preparing students for their return; going over new guidelines, expectations and daily schedules.”
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Publisher: Ubisoft
Platforms: Playstation 4, Xbox One, Windows
Release Date: April 10
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The%20specs
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