Saudi Gazette report

MADINAH — The Presidency of the Affairs of the Two Holy Mosques has strongly denied reports being circulated on social media platforms claiming that it had cancelled the system of subscription for parking in the basement of the Prophet's Mosque in Madinah.

"We are not thinking of such a move. In fact we are considering to expand the capacity of the parking lot to benefit the largest number of subscribers," said an official of the presidency who did not want to be identified.

A number of Madinah residents and visitors to the city had complained that the subscription for the whole year in the basement parking of the mosque deprived many people of the chance to find space for parking their cars.

They said many of the subscribers would reserve their parking but keep them empty most of the time.

The residents said those who had the parking reservation would come only for a prayer or two during the whole day while some of them come for the Friday prayer alone.

They said some of the subscribers were traders who reserve the parking space so that they would be able to follow up business activity in shops they owned near the mosque.

The residents asked the presidency to enable the visitors and worshippers to find parking places according to availability especially on Fridays and during the fasting month of Ramadan.

Wail Rafiq, a Saudi resident, said he visited the mosque at various times and he found the parking reserved by the subscribers to be always empty.

"These parking lots are only occupied during the Maghreb and Isha prayers," he added.

He asked how could they allow a limited number of subscribers to reserve a large number of parking slots and keep them empty while depriving other visitors and worshippers of the opportunity to park their cars?

Rafiq said most of the people who had subscriptions in the basement parking were traders in the central area who, through the payment of the annual subscription fee, could guarantee themselves with parking space throughout the year.

The subscribers, on their part, defended themselves by claiming that it was important for them to find parking places whenever they came to the mosque especially as some of them accompanied elderly relatives.