New details have emerged about the government’s plan to regulate parking fees in Qatar.

According to Gulf Times, parking lot operators will soon be limited to charging customers QR2 an hour for each of the first two hours.

That climbs to QR3 for the third and fourth hour, and QR5 for every subsequent hour. The maximum a person can be charged is QR70 a day.

Additionally, motorists would not be charged for the first 30 minutes. This means drivers who are staying for a very short while or can’t find a parking spot within that time period won’t have to pay a fee.

Finally, valet services are capped at QR30 for regular valet parking and QR60 for VIP valet parking, Gulf Times reported.

In early April, the Ministry of Economy and Commerce announced plans to force malls and other commercial complexes to cap their parking fees, but gave no indication of the maximum rates at the time.

‘Acceptable’

Speaking to Doha News, a major parking lot operator confirmed the new caps and said his companies planned to adjust their prices at the beginning of June.

Elie Elkhoury, chief operating officer of Computer Station Co. said that only minor adjustments will need to be made to fit the caps.

“Most of our sites (currently have a maximum of) QR80 to QR100” per day, he said. “(QR70) is close. It’s acceptable.”

Elkhoury’s firm manages more than a half-dozen large parking lots around Qatar, including the new Doha Exhibition and Convention Center (DECC) in Dafna/West Bay.

Elkhoury said he plans to meet with ministry officials tomorrow to present several suggestions and discuss possible exemptions for some sites.

He added that he welcomed the regulations, which he said would help prevent unlicensed operators charge arbitrary rates.

Thoughts?