Understanding Dubai's RTA Paid Parking System
Public street and lot parking across Dubai is administered by the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA). Paid parking is enforced across standard hours: Monday through Saturday from 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM continuously.
Parking is free on Sundays throughout Dubai, as well as on declared federal public holidays (such as National Day and Eid holidays announced by official government circulars).
Core Parking Zones & Tariff Schedule
- Zone A (Commercial Roadside / On-Street): Located along busy high-density commercial corridors (e.g. Deira, Bur Dubai, Business Bay, Jumeirah).
- Hourly Rates: 1 hr = AED 4 | 2 hrs = AED 8 | 3 hrs = AED 12 | 4 hrs = AED 16. Maximum continuous parking is 4 hours.
- Zone B (Commercial Off-Street Lots): Dedicated surface parking lots in commercial districts.
- Hourly Rates: 1 hr = AED 3 | 2 hrs = AED 6 | 3 hrs = AED 9 | 4 hrs = AED 12 | Full Day (24 hrs) = AED 20.
- Zone C (Non-Commercial Roadside): On-street parking spaces located in primarily residential areas.
- Hourly Rates: 1 hr = AED 2 | 2 hrs = AED 5 | 3 hrs = AED 8 | 4 hrs = AED 11.
- Zone D (Non-Commercial Off-Street Lots): Open surface parking lots situated in residential neighborhoods.
- Hourly Rates: 1 hr = AED 2 | 2 hrs = AED 4 | 3 hrs = AED 5 | 4 hrs = AED 7 | Full Day (24 hrs) = AED 10.
- Specialized Zones (Zones E, F, G, H, I, J, K): Apply to specific developments like Deira Waterfront Market, Tecom (Internet City / Media City), Downtown, and Silicon Oasis.
How to Pay via mParking (SMS to 7275)
The fastest mobile payment method without downloading an app is the RTA 7275 (P-A-R-K) SMS service. Send an SMS in the following standardized format:
Example for Dubai plate A12345 in Zone 335A for 2 hours:
A12345 335A 2
For vehicles registered in other Emirates, include the emirate code prefix (e.g., AUH12 12345 335A 1 for Abu Dhabi, or SHJ1 12345 335A 1 for Sharjah). You will receive an immediate confirmation SMS with your expiry time and a reminder alert 10 minutes before expiration.
Alternative Smart Payment Channels
- WhatsApp RTA Chatbot (971 58 800 9090): Message "Hi" and follow interactive prompts to pay via credit card or Apple Pay without telco SMS surcharges.
- RTA Dubai Smart App: Link your license plate and pay seamlessly with Apple Pay, digital wallet, or credit card.
- Physical Meters: Pay using coins (AED 1 and 50 fils coins) or your RTA Nol Card.