Dubai Discovery Gardens Paid Parking Faces Glitches, Parkonic Responds
Residents report app issues and registration delays as on-street parking goes live
Paid on-street parking at Dubai’s Discovery Gardens officially launched on January 15, with Parkonic confirming that enforcement is now active. The new system, powered by AI and number plate recognition, aims to regulate parking in areas without dedicated spaces, improve shared parking management, and boost safety across the community.
Since the rollout, many residents have reported difficulties with the PARKONIC app, from blocked accounts to registration errors and slow customer support.
Residents Struggle With App Registration
Some residents said they were unable to log in even after receiving their PINs. Others reported the app flagged their phone numbers as already registered, preventing activation.
One resident shared on social media: “I received the PIN yesterday, followed the instructions immediately, but the app blocks me because my phone number is already registered. Customer support is unresponsive, and I have no way to complete registration.”
Parkonic acknowledged the issues, explaining that account activation delays occur due to system synchronization. The company confirmed that residents will not be penalised for these delays and that affected accounts are being reviewed by the relevant team.
First-Come, First-Served Parking
Some residents asked whether on-street parking spaces would be guaranteed near their homes. Parkonic clarified that all spaces operate on a first-come, first-served basis and are not assigned. The system is designed to manage availability fairly across the community rather than provide dedicated spots.
Multi-Vehicle Households and Pricing
Multi-car households raised concerns about costs. Each residential unit receives one complimentary permit if the building lacks dedicated parking. Additional vehicles require paid subscriptions:
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Standard vehicles: Dh945 per month / Dh2,625 quarterly
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Electric vehicles: Dh500 per month / Dh1,350 quarterly
Visitor parking is charged Dh4 per hour during standard hours (8am–5pm) and Dh6 during peak hours (5pm–12am). During Ramadan, peak hours start at 3pm.
Parkonic stressed that pricing and allocation are set under an approved framework and encouraged residents with multiple vehicles to submit formal requests through official channels.
How to Avoid Parking Fees
Residents should:
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Register via the PARKONIC tenant portal
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Activate eligibility through the PARKONIC+ app
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Complete activation at least five minutes before entering a parking area
Approval is subject to document verification and may take time, especially during the busy activation period.
Parkonic’s Resident-Focused Approach
The company emphasised its commitment to a smooth, tenant-friendly rollout, addressing technical issues sequentially while supporting residents throughout registration and activation.