How to Pay Parking in Dubai

Over time, the Government of Dubai has developed an advanced public parking infrastructure that provides car owners with convenient parking payment options. 

This write-up is your ultimate guide to the various ways in which you can pay for Dubai parking. 

Ways to Pay for Parking in Dubai

Here’s how you can access pay parking in Dubai —

Via WhatsApp

Dubai Road and Transport Authority (RTA) has come up with a convenient parking system known as ‘Park & Pay’. 

With this technology, you can effortlessly pay for Dubai parking just by sending a WhatsApp message to the RTA’s Chatbot — Mahboub. 

Here’s how this payment method works —

• Add Mahboub to your contact list. For this, save the number — 00971 58 800 9090. 
• On WhatsApp, type a message to Mahboub to pay the Dubai parking fee. 

Follow this format —

‘Plate Code and Number <Space> Area Code <Space> Time in Hours’

mParking

This is one of the most popular ways to pay for the Dubai parking fee. 

An SMS service, mParking is sure to help you handle your ‘how to pay for Parking in Dubai’ confusion. If you have Du or Etisalat SIMs, you can pay for the parking fee using your mobile phone in lieu of a virtual ticket. 

Here are the steps to use this service — 

• Register your vehicle for the mParking service through your number plate. 
• Determine the parking area and the duration of parking. 
• Prepare an SMS (as per the RTA parking SMS format) that contains details like the registered vehicle, parking area, and the duration of parking. Remember, parking price is computed hourly. 
• Send this Dubai parking SMS to 7275 (PARK). 

Once you send the message, you will receive an SMS confirmation indicating that you have purchased a ticket. In case you don’t receive the parking ticket within 5 minutes of the purchase, use the alternative payment mode or call the RTA customer service at 800 9090.

Note 

• For unregistered users, the Dubai parking SMS format is this — Plate Number <Space> Zone Number <Space> Duration
• For registered users, this is the format: Nickname <Space> Zone Number <Space> Duration
• The transaction fee is 30 fils per SMS. 
• The virtual tickets work only for the selected parking zones. 

RTA Dubai Application

With this app, you can pay for parking in Dubai and access various services at your fingertips. 

Just download the app from the App Store, Google Play, or HUAWEI AppGallery, register your vehicle, and follow the instructions to pay your parking fees. The app will automatically deduct the fees from your phone balance.

Coins

In Dubai, you can usually use coins to pay for parking. 

The machines in parking lots take 1 dirham and 50-fil coins. Just put in enough coins to cover your parking fees, get the ticket, and put it on your car's dashboard. The only tricky part is having to carry around the coins, which isn't something people often do.

NOL Card

The NOL Card is a handy way to handle your Dubai parking payments. It works for buses, metro, water buses, and trams, making it easy to pay for your rides. Additionally, you can use the same card to pay for parking in Dubai. 

The RTA has set up machines in parking lots that read your NOL Card to charge the parking fees. The amount gets debited from your NOL balance, and you receive a parking ticket.

Seasonal Cards

Seasonal parking cards allow you to park at public spots without constant payments. Just display the card on your dashboard and choose from 3-month, 6-month, or yearly options. 

Note that prices vary based on permits and zones.

For ‘General’ permit in zones A, B, C, and D

• 1 month: AED 500
• 3 months: AED 1,400
• 6 months: AED 2,500
• 12 months: AED 4,500

For ‘Plots’ permit in zones B and D

• 1 month: AED 250
• 3 months: AED 700
• 6 months: AED 1,300
• 12 months: AED 2,400

To get your card —

Via RTA website

• Add vehicle and card details.
• Select card category and duration.
• Add the specified details.
• Confirm and pay.

Via RTA app

• Log in and go to Parking Services.
• Click 'Seasonal Parking Card' and proceed.
• Choose permit type, category, and activation date.
• Click on 'Add Your Vehicle,' select the plate number, and pay fees.

Other Methods

Apple Pay

You can use Apple Pay for easy and secure payments on all your Apple devices, making it a straightforward way to pay for your parking with confidence.

Galaxy Pay

Samsung Pay makes it pretty easy to pay for parking. It works in more places than other mobile payment methods because of its MST and NFC features.

RFID-Enabled Bank Cards

Opt for the RFID service to pay for parking easily. You can use this option for straightforward and secure transactions.

Learn more about how to pay for parking in Dubai through some frequently asked questions in the next section. 

Frequently Asked Questions