Parking Locks and Space Savers in Ajman and Sharjah: Types, Power and Rules

Short answer: A parking lock, also called a parking space saver, reserves a bay by rising from the ground when a car leaves and lowering when its owner arrives with a remote or tag. For parking locks in Ajman and Sharjah, decide who controls each bay, how it is powered, how it copes with dust and washing, and what happens if the lock fails in the raised position.

What a parking lock does and does not do

A parking lock is a low folding barrier fixed to the floor of a bay. When raised, it blocks the space so another driver cannot park there. When lowered, it lies nearly flat so the owner can drive over it. Control is by a remote, a key, a phone app or a tag, depending on the model. It is a simple device with a clear job: protect a reserved bay from strangers.

It does not control entry to the building or the car park, replace a boom barrier, or protect a car from collision. A parking lock is also not a bollard, although the two get confused. For a plain-language look at bollards, see bollard types and uses. The parking locks page explains the family we supply.

Where parking locks make sense

Types and power

Battery powered locks

Battery models are easiest to fit because no cable run is needed. The battery lasts as long as the number of operations allows. They suit a few bays in a car park without power points near the bay. You must accept the battery change as routine maintenance, and the lock will not respond if the battery is flat.

Solar assisted locks

These add a small panel to top up the battery. They suit open-air bays with direct sun, though dust on the panel reduces output, and shade from a canopy or a nearby tower may defeat the idea.

Mains or low voltage locks

These suit installations with many bays and a proper cable route. They avoid battery change but need civil work, ducting and an electrician. Ask for protection against surges and for a drain in the bay if floors are washed.

Our parking locks and space savers product page shows the types available, and the gate barrier and parking saver page covers links to barriers.

Control methods

• Handheld remote: simple and quick, but remotes get lost and shared.
• Key switch or key fob: robust and cheap, but slow if someone has to get out of the car.
• Phone app or SMS: convenient for owners and managers, though it depends on signal.
• Tag or card reader: suits a managed car park with a central user list.

For a building with many bays, a central list lets managers add and cancel users without visiting each bay. For one villa, a remote is enough. Whichever you choose, write down who holds which remote, as covered in our tower parking entrance design note.

Dust, washing and heat

A parking lock sits on the ground and meets sand, spilled oil, hot tyres and hoses. Look for sealed housings, a corrosion resistant finish, and a mechanism that clears dust instead of trapping it. Where cleaning crews wash the floor, ask that the lock be rated for water splash. In direct sun, black surfaces get very hot and plastic parts age, so a metal housing in a light colour is a sound choice. Salt air along the waterfront is harsh on cheap fixings, which is another reason to use stainless hardware.

Safety and good practice

• Mark the bay clearly so no driver strikes a raised lock.
• Choose a lock whose arm is visible, with reflective strips if the bay is dark.
• Ask what happens if a car drives onto a raised lock: some units fold, some resist.
• Ask for a manual release for a failed lock, so a car is never trapped in a bay.
• Keep a spare remote or key in the management office.

A raised lock is a trip risk for pedestrians, so think about walkways and the line from the lift to the car.

Where this comes up around Ajman and Sharjah

• Al Nuaimiya and Al Rashidiya: buildings with shared frontage bays where neighbours and visitors compete for space.
• Emirates City and Ajman Corniche: towers with allocated bays and busy evenings.
• Al Jurf: mixed use blocks and small offices that reserve a few bays.
• Al Nahda and Al Taawun: dense residential towers where bay disputes are common.
• Al Majaz and Al Khan: waterfront towers and hotels with VIP and staff bays.
• Aljada: mixed development with managed parking rules.

Management, approvals and neighbours

In a tower, you may own the bay but not the floor, and the management company decides what can be fixed to it. Ask for a written approval before you order. Some buildings allow only certain models or colours, or require the management company to hold a master remote. In shared compounds, committees may set one rule for all bays, so a single owner cannot add a lock and annoy others. The approvals note for Sharjah is a good starting point: who to ask for door and gate work.

What to photograph and measure

1. The bay, from the driver's seat height, showing markings and walls.
2. The floor surface: tile, concrete or asphalt, and any slope or drain.
3. The bay dimensions, width and length.
4. The nearest power point or light fitting, if mains power is wanted.
5. The sun exposure at midday, if a solar model is considered.
6. The approach, so we see how the car enters and what path the lock must avoid.

Send them through the photo page and we can suggest suitable options.

Lock, bollard or barrier: choosing the right tool

Common mistakes with parking locks

• Fitting a lock without checking building rules, then being asked to remove it.
• Choosing a battery lock for a bay in constant use and forgetting the battery schedule.
• Buying a lock too small for a large vehicle's wheelbase and ground clearance.
• Putting a solar lock in permanent shade.
• Leaving a raised lock unmarked, so visitors and delivery drivers damage it.
• Giving the only remote to a driver who then leaves the company.

Each of these is easy to prevent at the ordering stage. A short checklist saves a second visit.

Before you decide: walk the bay at the busiest time of day and note who parks there, who complains and who would hold the remote. The answer often shows whether a simple lock is enough, or whether a managed system with a central list will save arguments later.

Frequently asked questions

Can I install a parking lock in my building's allocated bay?

Usually only with written approval from the building management or owners' association. Ask them for their rules on fixings, colour and remote control before ordering.

Is a parking space saver the same as a parking lock?

The terms are used interchangeably for a low folding barrier that reserves a bay. Some suppliers use "space saver" for lighter units and "lock" for more robust ones. Check the load rating and mounting method.

Will a car damage a raised parking lock?

A strong impact can bend the arm or its base. Quality units are built to resist normal contact, but they are not crash barriers. Mark the bay and use a lock with a visible arm.

What if the remote is lost?

Cancel it at the receiver if the system allows, or change the code. Keep a spare in the management office. See our guide to shared compound gates and remotes for the same principles.

Do parking locks work in rain and dust?

Good units are sealed against both, but standing water and heavy grit still need attention. A drain in the bay and an occasional clean extend life.

Can a parking lock link to a boom barrier or gate?

Not directly in most cases, but both can use the same tag or remote system. A common user list simplifies management and keeps one record of who holds access.

Do I need a supplier or an installer?

You need both, and one company can do both. We supply, fit and maintain parking locks, and we handle fixings, wiring and testing in one visit.

What affects the cost of a parking lock installation?

The model and power type, the number of bays, the floor surface, cabling, the control method and any approval requirements. We quote in writing after seeing the bay.

How many remotes does a parking lock need?

One per authorised user is usual, plus a spare held by management. For shared bays, a key or a central list is easier than many remotes. Record who holds each one.

Protecting a bay? Call +971 50 494 8667 or message 971504948667. You can send photos of the space, book a free site visit, or ask for a written quote.