The procedural guide describes ample parking as one of the most important success factors of any investment project, and a key factor in the size of the traffic impact, because a parking shortage pushes cars onto the surrounding streets, which then congest and drive customers away. Each activity has a different pattern of parking demand: a restaurant is not a hospital, and a mall is not a school. This guide explains where the required number comes from, what the traffic study asks for in parking analysis, the demand characteristics of the main activities, and common mistakes.
Where Does the Required Number Come From?
From the municipality's building requirements and regulations for each activity, which vary by city, use and area. The Riyadh Municipality has building permit requirement guides that refer to the parking design manual. So do not rely on general figures in circulation; the office sets them from the requirements in force for your location.
What the Traffic Study Asks For
- A table comparing provided parking with that required by the municipality's requirements.
- Drawings showing parking locations with design dimensions. Read: Parking dimensions and angles.
- An operational capacity analysis of the parking in the morning and evening peaks, with control systems such as tickets and automatic gates.
- Vehicle movement plans within the parking using AutoTurn.
Activities with High Parking Demand
| Activity | What characterises its parking demand | What to consider in design |
|---|---|---|
| Restaurants | A sharp evening peak and fast turnover | Parking close to the entrance and a separate drive-through. Read: Drive-through design |
| Malls | A weekend peak and long stays | Large capacity and internal wayfinding |
| Hospitals | Continuous demand all day, with parking for emergencies, ambulances and people with disabilities | Separating the emergency route from visitors |
| Schools | Short peaks for drop-off and pick-up | A safe drop-off zone. Read: Safety around schools |
| Offices | Stays throughout working hours | Staff parking and short-stay visitor parking |
Do not forget accessible parking for every activity. Read: Accessible parking.
Parking and Access Points
The number of spaces alone is not enough; an unsuitable entrance or short stacking lane can make the provided parking unusable at the peak. Read: Access requirements and Entrance location.
Common Mistakes
- Relying on general figures instead of the municipality's requirements in force.
- Parking far from the entrance that customers do not use.
- Not analysing vehicle movement within the parking.
- Omitting service and loading bays. Read: Loading dock design.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a parking shortage be compensated?
The building regulations and the municipality decide this; the study assesses the effect of any shortage on surrounding streets.
Are basement spaces counted?
Yes, among the provided parking, with analysis of their circulation and entrances.
Does the number differ between cities?
Yes; each municipality has its own requirements, so the requirements in force for the project's location are reviewed.
Does changing the activity change the required number of spaces?
Usually yes, because the number is linked to the activity. Read: Changing a shop's activity.
When do I need a traffic study for parking?
When the project's size requires a traffic impact study, of which parking analysis is a part. Read: When do you need a traffic study?.
How Abak Engineering Consultancy Helps
Abak is an accredited engineering office that sets the required number of spaces from the municipality's requirements in force for your activity and location, designs the parking, its circulation and entrances, and analyses its operational capacity within the traffic study. See our parking design service, or contact us.
Regulatory information is based on the Balady platform and the Ministry of Municipalities and Housing, and procedures may be updated by the competent authority. Last reviewed: October 2026.