City Center mall, which held a trial period for a new pay-for-parking system in early July, will start charging for parking tomorrow.

The price is QR2 for the first hour, QR3 for the second and third hours and QR10 for additional hours.

Some store owners may validate parking. For example, anyone who spends more than QR100 at Carrefour can park free for two hours.

Not everyone is happy about the new system, which cost some QR10 million to install.

But mall officials maintain the goal is to make it easier to park in what is arguably Qatar’s most congested parking lot.

The Gulf Times reports:

Yesterday, the new system was in full use, but customers were not being charged for the parking.

The effects of the new system were clear, as many more parking spaces were available than usual, and while cars could previously be seen circling the car park for over 10 minutes looking for spaces, yesterday there were empty spaces for potential customers.

Although it is summer and demand for parking spaces will be less than usual over the coming month or so, the system will be tested fully when people return from their annual holidays.

Have you guys been to City Center lately? 

What are your thoughts on the new system?