DUBAI// Motorists can now use their mobile phones to find out which parking zone they are at and pay for parking in the emirate.
The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) have developed a new feature for their RTA App to facilitate the payment of parking fees.
The new mobile software application, which is available now, can automatically recognise the Zone Code that motorists are in, so they do not have to search for a road sign with the area code.
“More than 60 per cent of motorists in Dubai now pay their parking fees electronically, either by mobile phone, Nol card or prepaid cards, as opposed to the conventional means of using coins,” said Mr Adel Al Marzouqi, the director of parking at the RTA Traffic and Roads Agency.
“This system has been developed and provided to smartphone users to enable them to pay their parking fees in a smooth and smart manner.”
Mr Al Marzooqi said not only the app display the zone code, but it also provides options for the nearest parking zones and shows how far they are.
He said that would help motorists to buy e-tickets and avoid unnecessary fines.
The RTA is also developing an app for parking. Motorists could save 30 fils per payment when they use the app, as opposed to the SMS system, to pay for parking. The app should become available in a couple of months, the RTA said.
“Though this application will be easier to use and cheaper than the SMS payment method, we will not close the SMS facility of payment, so people who don’t use smartphones can still use it,” said Mr Al Marzooqi.
malkhan@thenational.ae