Sharjah Municipality Explains Smart Scanning and Monitoring Processes: No Parking Violations in First 10 Minutes

Sharjah municipality is keeping its 10-minute grace period for public parking payments unchanged, giving drivers time to pay fees without getting immediate fines. The policy applies whether you're using a parking spot for the first time or moving your car to another spot in the same area.

Hamed Al Qayed, who runs public parking for Sharjah city, said this grace period stays the same for everyone. The municipality sees it as a key benefit that makes public parking more flexible for users.

Here's how the system works: Smart scanning vehicles take a first photo of your car when they pass by. Then they come back after exactly 10 minutes to take a second photo and check if you've paid during that window.

The system treats cars that move from one parking spot to another within a few minutes as a new parking session. So you automatically get another 10-minute grace period. Human parking inspectors follow the same rules.

Al Qayed stressed that parking benefits haven't changed at all. The goal is simple - let drivers complete their payment easily without worrying about instant fines. This keeps customers happy and helps traffic flow better across different areas in the emirate.

The policy shows how local authorities are balancing enforcement with user convenience. Instead of immediate penalties, the grace period gives people a reasonable window to handle payment, whether through mobile apps or parking meters.