Law No. (18) of 2009
Regarding the Regulation of Vehicle Parking in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi
We, Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Ruler of Abu Dhabi.
Having reviewed Law No. (1) of 1974 on the Reorganization of the Governmental Apparatus in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and its amending laws,
And Law No. (2) of 1971 concerning the National Consultative Council and its amending laws,
And Law No. (32) of 2005 regarding the Regulation of the Transport Sector in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi,
And Law No. (4) of 2006 on the Establishment of the Department of Transport, as amended by Law No. (5) of 2008,
And Law No. (23) of 2006 regarding the Judicial Department in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, as amended by Law No. (11) of 2008,
And Law No. (14) of 2008 regarding the Abu Dhabi Accountability Authority,
And Federal Law No. (3) of 1978 promulgating the Penal Code and its amending laws,
And Federal Law No. (35) of 1992 promulgating the Criminal Procedures Law and its amending laws,
And Federal Law No. (21) of 1995 regarding Traffic and its amending laws,
And based on what was presented to the Executive Council, and its approval,
We have issued the following law:
Article (1)
In the application of the provisions of this Law, the following words and phrases shall have the meanings assigned to each of them, unless the context otherwise requires.
| The Emirate: | The Emirate of Abu Dhabi. |
| The Executive Council: | The Executive Council of the Emirate. |
| The Department: | The Department of Transport in the Emirate. |
| The Licensing Authority: | The entity authorized to register and license vehicles in the Emirate. |
| Vehicle: | Any means of transport designated for any purpose, whether registered or not with the Licensing Authority, which can occupy a space designated as a parking space. |
| Regulated Areas: | Any areas in the Emirate designated by the Department for the regulation of public and private parking, including parking for residential and commercial buildings. |
| Public Parking: | Spaces designated by the Department for parking vehicles, with or without a fee, in regulated areas, whether the designation is on an open or covered plot of land or inside a building, and which the Department supervises its regulation. |
| Private Parking: | Spaces owned by others that are used as paid parking for vehicles under a prior permit from the Department. |
| Parking Fee: | An amount collected for parking a vehicle in paid public parking for a specific period of time, for which a paper ticket or electronic notification is issued to prove payment and specify the duration of parking. |
| Automated Collection Machine: | An electronic device used to pay the vehicle parking fee and issue the corresponding paper ticket or electronic notification. |
| Building Owner: | The owner of any residential or commercial building consisting of apartments, offices, or commercial shops. |
| Violation: | Any act or omission that constitutes a violation of the provisions of this Law and the executive regulations, rules, and decisions issued thereunder. |
| Inspectors: | Judicial officers legally authorized to monitor compliance with this Law in public and private parking and to record violations committed therein. |
| Building Permit: | A permit issued by the concerned municipality for the construction of residential and commercial buildings. |
Article (2)
The provisions of this Law and the regulations, bylaws, and decisions issued thereunder shall apply to all users of public parking within the Emirate, which are designated and regulated by a decision of the Head of the Department. It shall also apply to those authorized by the Department to operate and manage private parking and the users of such parking, in addition to the owners of buildings and properties when it relates to vehicle parking therein.
Article (3)
The Department shall undertake the following:
- Designating areas – not privately owned – and allocating them as public parking for vehicles, whether paid or free, and regulating them, in coordination with the concerned authorities in the Emirate.
- Managing and supervising public parking, and it may entrust others with these tasks.
- Allocating free and paid parking within regulated areas, and specifying those where parking is restricted to specific categories of people, as well as places where parking is prohibited according to public interest requirements.
- Identifying places where parking is prohibited inside or outside parking areas, to ensure the optimal use of these parking spaces.
- Issuing free or reduced-fee permits for use in public parking; the executive regulations shall specify the beneficiaries of such permits and the mechanism for their use.
- Granting necessary approvals to owners of built or unbuilt properties to operate them as paid private parking.
- Authorizing third parties to engage in the business of managing public and private parking, and in all cases, it shall have the right to supervise the regulation of these parking areas and determine the parking fees therein.
- Designating parking spaces for people of determination (special needs), issuing the relevant permits, and monitoring them.
- Designating parking spaces for civil defense, ambulance, public transport, and taxi vehicles in coordination with the concerned authorities, and regulating and monitoring them.
- Regulating traffic closures by contracting companies that affect public parking, issuing the necessary permits, specifying the permissible periods for such actions, and monitoring them.
Article (4)
With regard to paid parking, the following shall be observed:
- The Department shall collect a fee for parking vehicles in public parking spaces, except during times and on days exempted from fees.
- It is prohibited to park vehicles without paying the prescribed fees.
- The Department, or the entity entrusted with managing paid public parking, shall install the necessary collection machines to collect vehicle parking fees. It may, in the future, develop the collection method by relying on more advanced devices, software, and systems in this field.
Article (5)
It is prohibited to park any vehicle in public parking spaces without license plates, or for periods exceeding the duration specified in the executive regulations of this Law, or in a manner that obstructs the use of other parking spaces, or in a prohibited parking area, or in a space restricted for use by specific entities or categories. It is also not permitted to use public parking spaces, whether paid or free, for displaying vehicles for sale or for conducting any commercial, advertising, or promotional activity without a prior permit from the Department.
Article (6)
It is not permissible for third parties to use road pavements and external areas without obtaining the Department's approval, after paying the prescribed fees and meeting the conditions specified by the Department, as set out in the executive regulations.
Article (7)
Related Judicial Provisions
Before constructing any building in the Emirate, sufficient parking for the building's occupants and visitors must be provided for in the building's plans. It is prohibited to issue any building permit whose design does not provide for a number of vehicle parking spaces not less than that specified in the executive regulations of this Law.
Owners of existing buildings, whether built before or after the issuance of this Law, that have vehicle parking spaces must commit to providing the necessary parking for their occupants, in a number not less than that specified in the executive regulations. It is not permitted to use building parking spaces for rental, either to the residents themselves or to others, except in the case of a surplus beyond the number specified by the Department. In this case, priority in renting shall be given to the building's occupants.
If the number of parking spaces is insufficient to cover the needs of the occupants of the units within the building, the owner must submit an application to the Department to study the feasibility of providing the necessary parking for non-beneficiaries at the nearest location to the building and to bear any fees imposed by the Department for that.
The Department may at any time verify the building owner's compliance with the provisions of this Law and the regulations, bylaws, and decisions issued thereunder, and conduct the necessary survey of the actual parking needs for any building.
Article (8)
It is not permissible to engage in the business of managing public or private parking in the Emirate or to use any property therein as a paid private parking without a prior permit from the Department.
Article (9)
Without prejudice to any more severe penalty stipulated in any other law, a fine not exceeding (50,000) fifty thousand dirhams shall be imposed on anyone who commits a violation of the provisions of this Law, or the regulations, bylaws, or decisions issued in implementation thereof. The table attached to the executive regulations of this Law shall specify the categories of violations and the fine prescribed for each.
The Department may amend the violations listed in the aforementioned table, including by deletion or addition, provided that it does not exceed the maximum prescribed fine and that the act violates the provisions of this Law or the regulations, bylaws, or decisions issued in implementation thereof.
Anyone who commits a violation of the provisions of this Law may settle it with the Department within a period not exceeding fifteen days from the date of its commission. The violator shall benefit from a discount equivalent to a quarter of the fine's value, as specified in the table of fines attached to the executive regulations, upon payment of the fine within the specified period. The Department shall record the offer of settlement for violations in the official report and specify the settlement amount in the executive regulations.
Payment of the settlement amount shall prevent the initiation of criminal proceedings.
The Department shall notify the concerned licensing department of the violations that are issued, and of every violation for which the prescribed fine is paid or canceled.
No license may be renewed until all fees, fines, and amounts due under the provisions of this Law and the regulations and bylaws issued thereunder have been paid.
Article (10)
The Department shall form a committee to receive and decide on complaints related to violations, as specified in the executive regulations.
The said committee shall study the suggestions of parking users and submit its recommendations to the Head of the Department.
Article (11)
The Head of the Judicial Department, in agreement with the Head of the Department, shall issue a decision granting some of the Department's employees the capacity of judicial officers to monitor the application of the provisions of this Law and the regulations and bylaws issued thereunder, and to record crimes that fall within their jurisdiction and are related to their job duties. They may seek assistance from the competent security authorities in the Emirate to implement any of the procedures stipulated in this Law and its executive regulations.
The Department, through its inspectors, shall monitor compliance with the provisions of this Law and the regulations, bylaws, and decisions issued thereunder.
A violation report shall be issued for each vehicle whose driver does not comply with the provisions of this Law and the regulations, bylaws, and decisions issued thereunder. A copy of the report shall be delivered to the driver or affixed to the vehicle, as the case may be. The report shall specify the violating act and the amount of the fine.
In cases specified in the executive regulations, the Department may place a wheel clamp on the vehicle and tow it to a location designated for impounding vehicles.
Article (12)
The executive regulations and the necessary decisions for the implementation of the provisions of this Law shall be issued by a decision of the Head of the Department, and shall be accompanied by:
A table of violations and the fines prescribed for each.
A schedule of the prescribed fees for vehicle parking – after its approval by the Executive Council – which may be amended by a decision of the Executive Council based on a proposal by the Head of the Department.
Article (13)
This Law shall be published in the Official Gazette and shall come into force from the date of its publication.
Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan
Ruler of Abu Dhabi
Issued by us in Abu Dhabi
On: October 20, 2009 AD.
Corresponding to: 1 Dhu al-Qi'dah 1430 AH