Etihad Rail parking is getting a technology upgrade as Q Mobility and Parkin introduce AI-powered management and digital payments at passenger stations.
ABU DHABI: Etihad Rail parking will become smarter and more digitally connected under a new partnership with Q Mobility and Parkin PJSC aimed at improving access to passenger stations across the UAE. The agreement will introduce smart parking management, digital payment options and artificial intelligence to help passengers move more easily between their cars and train journeys.
Four stations included in first phase
The first phase of the partnership will cover Etihad Rail passenger stations in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Al Dhaid and Fujairah.
Q Mobility will operate the parking facilities at the Abu Dhabi, Al Dhaid and Fujairah stations. Parkin will manage parking at the Dubai passenger station. The companies said the approach is intended to create a more consistent parking experience across the expanding national rail network.
The partnership also aims to make the connection between road and rail travel smoother. Passengers arriving by car will be able to use digitally managed facilities designed around easier station access and more efficient parking operations.
AI and digital payments to manage parking
Technology will play a major role in the new Etihad Rail parking system. Artificial intelligence, digital tools and data will be used to improve traffic flow, manage available spaces and optimise parking capacity.
Passengers are also expected to benefit from secure digital payment options across the participating stations. Etihad Rail’s current passenger information says vehicles can be automatically detected when entering and leaving station car parks, with charges calculated according to factors including the station and duration of stay.
The wider goal is to reduce friction around station access and give passengers a simpler start and finish to their rail journey.
Partnership supports integrated UAE transport
Azza Alsuwaidi, Chief Operating Officer at Etihad Rail, said the partnership would support easier station access while expanding mobility choices as the passenger network grows.
Q Mobility said its role would focus on combining innovation, data and artificial intelligence to improve parking operations and passenger experience. Parkin, meanwhile, said it would deploy its digital parking solutions at the Dubai station to simplify access and payment.
The arrangement comes as Etihad Rail continues developing a passenger network designed to connect cities and regions across the UAE.
Impact to expect
The Etihad Rail parking partnership could make rail travel more convenient for passengers who drive to stations, particularly as passenger services expand.
Smarter parking management may also help reduce congestion around stations, improve use of available spaces and strengthen connections between private vehicles and the UAE’s growing national rail system.
