TECHNICAL CIRCULAR
   
Circular Ref. 2010-TIS-0006

Date 04th May 2010

Subject Car Parking Design Standards

Abu Dhabi Emirate Governmental Authorities,
To
Consultants and Developers

The Department of Transport (DOT) would like to inform all consultants, architects and
developers of the new Car Parking Design Standards that have been developed in
cooperation with the Urban Planning Council (UPC) and all Abu Dhabi municipalities.
The new standards apply to all new developments in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. All designs
submitted for approval after 15th May 2010 must comply with the new Car Parking Design
Standards.
For illustrating diagrams please see attachments (3 Pages).
Please note the below are minimum dimensions. Depending on location and land use type
larger dimensions may be recommended by planning authorities.
Frontage roads are considered part of the pedestrian realm and different dimensions apply as
per the Urban Street Design Manual.

Standard Parking Dimensions Width x Length (Minimum)

Standard Parking Bay (90-30° Angle): 2.5m x 5.5m

Standard Parking Bay (Parallel): 2.5m x 6m (6.5m) *

Accessible (Disabled) Parking: 2.5m+1.5m x 5.5m

Accessible Van Parking: 3.35m+1.5m x 5.5m

Parking next to Walls or Physical Obstructions:
Standard width + 200mm
(See also Diagram-4)
Minimum Headroom: 2.5m

Minimum Headroom for Service Vehicles: 4.5m

Ramp Gradient Maximum:
(Center Line for Curved Ramps) 1 in 8 or 12.5% **

Maximum Gradient for Parking on Ramps: 1 in 20 or 5%

Notes:
* 6.5m along Main Circulatory

** Depending on site constraints, ramps with gradients up to 1 in 6 or 16.5% can be

permitted based on a case by case evaluation and subject to the following provisions:
a) A transition ramp of a minimum length of 3m at both sides of the primary ramp.
b) The maximum gradient of the transition ramps is 1 in 12 or 8.3%.
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TECHNICAL CIRCULAR
   
General Car Parking Design

1) One-Way circulations are typically recommended for most car parks to minimize conflicts
and improve circulation. For large car parks and car parks with high turnover One-Way
circulations should be given preference.

2) However depending on local conditions and for smaller car parks Two-Way
circulations/driveways may be more appropriate. For example Two-Way driveways should
be used for dead-end aisles and up to 20 spaces on each side or similar situations.

3) For large car parks/parking structures the Consultant is required to define a Main
Circulatory network. Main Circulatories are subject to the main traffic movement through
the car park. To ensure the operation of the car park typically parking is not provided along
Main Circulatories. This is also illustrated in Diagrams-1 and -2 in Appendix 2. Ramps in
multi-storey car parks are naturally part of the Main Circulatory network.

4) The width of the Main Circulatory shall be designed to a minimum (depending on

emergency access requirements, turning radii and anticipated traffic volumes) to avoid
excessive speeds. However, if parking provision on a Main Circulatory is required and/or
acceptable wider driveways are required as shown in the diagrams in Appendix 1.

5) Large car parks that require Main Circulatories are defined as follows:
a) Low turnover (i.e. residential) and more than 500 spaces (total).
b) High turnover (i.e. office, retail, food, events) and more than 300 spaces (total).
c) Mixed use car parks are defined by whichever use dominates (high or low
turnover).

Further Conditions

6) Tandem Parking can be permitted only for residential 3 bedroom apartment or above
(parking requirement 2 parking bays per apartment). Each pair of Tandem Parking bays
must be pre-designated or reserved to one apartment, which needs to be declared by the
Consultant. The required width for Tandem Parking bays is 2.7m as shown in Diagram-3.

7) A parking bay length of 5.2m can be permitted based on a case by case evaluation and
subject to the following provisions:
a) 90° parking against a kerb with a maximum height of 150mm.
b) Footway width is sufficient to cater for all pedestrian requirements*** + 300mm
overhang for parked vehicles.
c) The curb must be unobstructed (clear of trees, bushes, fences, signs etc.).
This is illustrated in Diagram-5.
Note:
*** For pedestrian requirements please refer to the Urban Street Design Manual.

8) Dead-end driveways in excess of 15m length will require appropriate U-Turn facilities (T-
or L-shape) equivalent to 2 standard parking bay size (see also Diagram-11 in Appendix
3).

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