Cashless parking meters installed on Palm Jumeirah in Dubai

Once live, parking costs will vary depending on location but free spots will be available with validated tickets

Parking meters have been installed in specific locations on Palm Jumeirah in Dubai. Jaime Puebla / The National

Motorists will soon have to pay for parking in several locations on Palm Jumeirah in Dubai.

Parking meters have been installed on the East Crescent of the Palm, beside Aloft hotel. Additional meters have also been placed at Golden Mile Galleria 1 and 2 as well as The Pointe.

Though still not in operation, the meters are expected to go live in a month or so.

Operated by Parkonic, a smart parking management system, parking costs will vary but free parking will be available in some locations if the ticket has been validated by a participating merchant.

Users only need to give their vehicle plate number or QR code to the outlet for validation.

They must also download the Parkonic mobile app to set up an account and register their vehicle. With the app's “wallet” feature, users can also put money on to their accounts to pay for parking as they go.

Payments are automatically made through the app when a user exits a car park or metered parking location.

However if drivers prefer, they can also pay for parking via the website, at an on-site Parkonic kiosk or via one of the pay-on-foot machines.

Parkonic is the first cashless, ticketless, barrier-less parking system in Dubai.

Users can navigate the app to search for available parking slots over multiple locations in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, then book and pay for their parking at the click of a button.

"Parkonic has a simple four-step procedure aiming to reduce time spent on outdated methods and provide an easier, happier parking journey," a spokesperson said.

Parking rates vary across the city and are set by the property owner of the car park.

Per the website, both registered and unregistered users with unpaid parking fees will have 48 hours to top up their account to pay, After 48 hours, a Dh150 fine will be issued by the Dubai traffic authority.

Parkonic meters and barriers are active at 21 different locations across Dubai and Abu Dhabi: Al Hudaiba; Al Suhub; Bay Square; Central Park; Club Vista Mare; Dragon Mart Zone 1; Dragon Mart Zone 2; Golden Mile Galleria 1; Golden Mile Galleria 2; International City Pavilion; Ithra Dubai Plot 19A; Ithra Dubai Plot 10; Jumeirah Island Pavilion; Majestic Tower; Marsa Al Bateen- AUH; MOTF – Museum of the Future; Nshama; Palm West Beach; SME Business Village; The Palm Monorail; The Pointe.