For all the malls in the UAE (Dubai and Abu Dhabi) there is basically no open surface parking made available. Because its too hot outside and over 90-degrees Fahrenheit on an average all year around. In the summer 100-120 degrees is the norm. FYI: On the leisure side people only come out in the late evenings and this is when usually most of the shopping is done. On weekends the malls therefore are open to midnight and restaurants even longer and up to 3AM.

So with all parking being underground or in above-ground enclosed garage envelopes, we improved our customer parking and experience by adding small 'triggered lights' above each parking space. A green light would signal to any drivers from far away that here is an open and available space. With the unrelenting heat outside even the garage interiors are baking hot, so shoppers naturally wanting to keep their parking space finding as short and simple as possible.

Most malls and especially those with higher-end luxury retail tenants have of course valet parking available as well. Valet shoppers get greeted by mall employees in smartly dressed airline stewardess type uniforms. Then with an added benefit that fully airconditioned valet customer lounges are made available for 'coming or going' and directly copied in the style after an American 'Admiralty Club' airport membership lounge.

I used the valet parking option quite regularly to physically experience what it feels like to be in a different mall world and from what I had been used too. While I was lounging watching the BBC news on the 65 inch TV and sipping my complimentary beverage, it became glaringly clear to me: "Hey Toto we are not in Kansas anymore?" Valet lounges also offered free complimentary magazines from a collection of over 100 plus international subscriptions. So there was a chance for me in stocking-up with a bevy of freely offered 'take-away' magazines for my apartment and or for my sitting by the pool.

Also fee-based special ‘Premium Upfront Parking’ programs were being offered. This allowing the customers to 'self-park' their luxury automobiles in specially marked and double sized parking spaces right next to a mall entrance vestibule and thus gaining more immediate access to air-conditioning.

With about 15,000 overall enclosed parking spaces at the Dubai Mall for example, one can imagine everybody would love to be 'Upfront Parked' and out of the baking heat, or even splurge for a cool USD$25 Valet Service and lounging in the make believe Admiralty Club.

Yes...where is the green light?

Garage entrance and getting into the mall air-conditioning ASAP!