UOWD pauses planned parking fee hike after student backlash
The University of Wollongong in Dubai will not raise its paid parking rates “for the time being” after students pushed back. The university told Khaleej Times it will keep current prices while talks continue with its campus landlord, Dubai Knowledge Park. The decision came two days after an email said underground parking would jump to Dh20 per hour.
What the university confirmed
UOWD said it took student feedback seriously and is working with Dubai Knowledge Park on a parking model that gives priority to students. In plain terms, the proposed hike is on hold and existing rules stay in place. The president, Prof Mohamed-Vall M. Salem Zein, stressed “stability for students” during the review.
How the plan changed this week
On Wednesday, 11 February 2026, students received an advisory that underground parking would rise to Dh20 per hour, up from Dh10. The note also mentioned 160 spots with two free hours on a first-come, first-served basis. After complaints and a petition, the operator and DKP paused the change. Thus, the current setup remains: two hours free for all, then Dh10 per hour. (Dh or AED refers to the UAE dirham, the national currency.)
Student impact in dirhams and hours
Students told Khaleej Times the increase would have multiplied daily costs. One engineering student who pays Dh20 for four hours said the bill would have reached Dh80. Parents also flagged affordability for regular five-hour study days. These reactions helped trigger the pause.
UOWD parking fees in a wider Dubai context
The parking review unfolds as several Dubai communities adjust tariffs and timings. Discovery Gardens began paid parking on 15 January 2026, while International City follows the standard tariff model from 1 February 2026. Such changes show how local parking policies are shifting across the city. Meanwhile, student numbers in knowledge hubs are growing, adding pressure on spaces at DKP and nearby districts. Discovery Gardens and International City updates were recently reported, and a government brief noted 38,500 students across Dubai’s higher-education districts. WAM said enrolment rose 15% year on year across Dubai International Academic City and Dubai Knowledge Park, highlighting rising demand for mobility and parking. Dubai International Academic City.
What changes next
For now, nothing changes for drivers at UOWD. The university says talks continue with DKP on a model that identifies students separately from other visitors. In practice, that means keeping the current rate and two free hours while the review runs. Any future move will depend on the outcome of those talks and fresh notices to students.
In short, UOWD has frozen the proposed increase after feedback. The pause gives students breathing room and buys time for a student-first solution with Dubai Knowledge Park.
