Dubai: Quick parking to pick up travelling family or friends at Dubai International Airport will cost more following new rate hikes, the first in a decade, confirmed an airport spokesperson.

“The changes to parking rates introduced at Dubai International in 2018 are the first in a decade,” the spokesperson told Gulf News.

Rates have jumped generally for the first hour by Dh5 to Dh10 depending on the parking area at the airport, one of the busiest in the world.

The spokesperson confirmed “there has been a slight increase in our long-term [B car park] and short-term [A car park] rates — from Dh20 to Dh25, and Dh20 to Dh30”, respectively, for the first hour.

People have complained to Gulf News that they were charged for a full hour when they only parked for a portion of the time — motorists are charged the minimum one-hour fee.

“I stayed for only 20 minutes and the parking attendants in the booth told me I had to pay for a full hour. They should only charge me for as long as I parked, especially when the system is electronically monitored,” said a Dubai resident.

But the spokesperson said Dubai International Airport has also cut prices noting, “we have reduced our 24-hour long-term fee by 55 per cent, from Dh280 to Dh125, at all premium car parks and by 39 per cent, from Dh140 to Dh85, in all long-term car parks. The new rates have been introduced taking into account inflation and benchmarking our car parks against similar facilities in the region. It also includes 5 per cent VAT”.

“The car park facility at the airport was recently upgraded as the result of significant capital investment. It now features advanced access systems and multiple payment options to create a better customer experience, as reflected in the high scores of a third party customer satisfaction survey conducted in 2017,” the spokesperson said.

“To further enhance customer experience, we are planning to expand the car park facility by constructing a new multi-storey car park to add approximately 3,500 spaces in the next couple of years.”

By comparison, Abu Dhabi International Airport charges less per rate at up to Dh20 per hour at Terminal 1 and 3 car parks and Dh10 for Terminal 2 and Garden Parking Lot. Each hour after that can cost up to Dh10.

Abu Dhabi’s 24-hour rate is Dh240 in Terminal 1 and 3 car park but is halved at Terminal 2 and Garden Parking lot to Dh120.

Valet parking is also available at Dh75 per hour, every hour.

At Sharjah International Airport, rates are Dh15 for first hour of parking and Dh10 for each hour afterward. The first full 24 hours parking rate is Dh245.

— With inputs from Binsal Abdul Kader, Senior Reporter and Aghaddir Ali, Staff Reporter