Dubai’s public parking fines overtake fees

Parkin reported record third-quarter revenue, up 21% to 415 million dirhams ($113 million). It’s been inching in that direction for years, and now it’s official: Dubai’s public parking monopoly earns more from fines than public parking fees. Parkin reported record third-quarter revenue, up 21% to 415 million dirhams ($113 million), driven by enforcement, expanding business with private developers, and longer-term permits. The latter may have skewed the results: Sales of discounted “seasonal cards” were up 37%, the company said, and those permits aren’t counted in public parking utilization and revenue, even though their holders occupy spaces. Parkin also expanded its portfolio to 272,500 spaces, nearly tripling the number managed for private developers over the past year. Still, for anyone parking in Dubai, it feels like enforcement is stricter, aided by the deployment of advanced cameras and AI-powered monitoring.