Shops cannot reserve public parking spaces
Being outside a shop does not give its owner legal rights over nearby public parking.
Shop owners cannot reserve public parking spaces for their customers simply because the spaces are located outside their businesses, lawyer Abdulkareem Al Ahmed has said.
Cones, chains, barriers or signs placed on public roads, pavements or parking bays to prevent others from parking are not permitted unless the area is privately owned or officially allocated to the business under its site plan and licence, or the owner has obtained a permit from the competent authority.
Al Ahmed said the location of a parking space in front of a shop does not give the business any special claim over it. What matters is whether the space is public or privately designated.
Under the Traffic Law’s implementing regulations, public roads include roads and public areas open for general use, while pavements are primarily designated for pedestrians.
The law prohibits occupying roads or pavements in a way that obstructs traffic or pedestrian movement. Temporary occupation requires official permission, and authorities may remove unauthorised barriers at the violator’s expense.
Official traffic signs and road markings determine where parking and waiting are permitted. A homemade “customers only” sign therefore does not create a legal right to reserve a public parking bay.
Businesses also have a responsibility to provide sufficient parking for their own vehicles and visitors, where required by law. However, this does not give them the right to take over public parking spaces outside their premises.
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