The initiative addresses the heavy flows of traders, transporters and visitors who move through the food-hub logistics site, where time-sensitive goods such as perishables dominate operations. According to DP World’s head of GCC markets, efficient logistics now extend beyond port gates and hinge on the movement of goods, vehicles and people across every link—traffic flow and parking management included. Parkin’s chief executive described the partnership as a key step to ease traffic jams, accelerate operations and support the city’s ambition to deliver seamless mobility infrastructure.
The market itself forms the core of Dubai Municipality’s wholesale fresh-produce trading zone, serving as a major regional hub for fruit and vegetables and logistics operations. Upgrading parking at such a site is both a response to rising demand and a signal of infrastructure alignment with technology-driven mobility trends. The selected system will record vehicle entries and exits automatically, reduce queuing at gate lanes and optimise space use for both light vehicles and truck-based logistics.
Parkin’s broader strategy supports the rollout. The company reported a total parking-space portfolio of nearly 211,500 slots by the end of the second quarter of 2025—marking a six-percent increase over the previous year. It posted a record revenue of AED 320 million in that quarter, with earnings-before-interest-tax-depreciation-amortisation reaching AED 189.3 million and net profit up by 56 percent year-on-year. The gains were attributed to variable parking tariffs, growth in seasonal-card sales and stricter enforcement.
Beyond the Al Aweer upgrade, Parkin is developing five fully automated multi-storey car parks across Dubai, located in high-traffic business districts and equipped with EV-charging points, open-flow digital payments and AI-based inspection systems. The firm expects all off-street and multi-storey parking in Dubai to operate under a cashless, barrierless model within the calendar year.
Challenges remain, however. The scale of logistics activity at Al Aweer means system reliability and operational transition will be critical. Traders and supply-chain operators depend on predictability for perishable goods, and any disruption during installation or onboarding could affect market throughput. Parkin will need to ensure smooth integration of its technology with existing traffic-management systems, loading zones and supply-chain scheduling. Variables such as truck-size diversity, peak load periods and integration with city-wide traffic data add complexity.
For DP World, the move signals an extension of its logistics-ecosystem ambitions. The firm aims to transform the site into one of the world’s largest integrated food trading and logistics centres, with strong global market connections. The parking upgrade, while operational rather than headline-grabbing, plays a foundational role: it removes friction in vehicle movement, improves asset-use transparency and supports faster turnaround times.
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