It’s no secret that parking in Abu Dhabi is a little bit of a nightmare. And a rather big one if you happen to be looking for a space during lunch-hour, driving round in circles, sandwich in hand, coins to pay in the other – and no parking meter in sight. Yes, we’ve all been there.

Written by:Charlie Kennedy

So the fact that Abu Dhabi is busy introducing more paid spaces across the capital should come as respite. Except for now, it’s seemingly causing more grief than relief.

Problems understanding how to use, pay and even where to find the right designated parking spot are some of the issues already found to be common talk among residents in the capital.
Teething problems of course are often part and parcel of any new initiative, and long term plans are in place to actively rectify issues raised so far.

But perhaps the bigger problem still is not whether car users pay or not to park – it’s the space itself.
Sit in traffic at any time of day in the main parts of Abu Dhabi and you’ll know, without a doubt that congestion is a major issue, road construction works and diversions aside. Complaints of not being able to find a parking space at night are not new, neither is the fact that many families own more than one car.

You only have to look to real-estate reports, or speak to those actually residing in the capital, that there’s a huge over-demand – and continuing under supply – in property.

While many new housing projects actually near or face completion this year, this is still only a catch up to the swollen demand. The need for parking is the same. Some new residential units in fact do not actually have designated car parking space allocated. Which surely equals more people, more cars – and the same original problem with vehicle space.

While over 2,000 paid spaces, including underground along the Corniche, Khalifa Street and East Road areas have been the most recent addition to the ongoing Mawaqif project – the case remains that Abu Dhabi is seriously overcrowded. While it may be hard to magic new designated parking spaces into an already crowded city, many people are beginning to question whether charging money for a small amount of space is the solution.

Perhaps the realisation that, for now, the Mawaqif project is a long term goal – and not an overnight miracle is the answer to a lot of parking concerns and quarrels. Whether you pay or not or have one car or two – parking remains an issue.

It’s easy to forget that Abu Dhabi is a relatively young city. And for such a young city – it has some wonderful long term goals. Plan 2030 may be a long way off yet, but it’s all a working progress. Slowly but surely, infrastructure, public transport, housing, designated parking and more will change.

It’s a positive process with a lot of backbone. It doesn’t dampen the current parking woes – but there is a light at the end of that long tunnel.

Of course, if you really can’t bear to negotiate narrow streets, driveways and current car parking spaces, there’s always the bus ... or perhaps the Department of Transport’s helpline number (800-3009) to hand for those stressful lunch-hour parking dilemmas.