A Guide on Car Parking in Dubai
- Parking Zones
- Dubai Parking Charges
- Special Parking Zones
- Parking Area Categories
- How to Pay Parking Charges
- Parking Fines
- FAQs
Dubai offers a well-structured and technologically advanced parking system managed by the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA). The system is quite extensive, with multiple parking zones, different parking cards and various payment options and processes. Here is a detailed guide to car parking in Dubai covering comprehensive information on the parking zones, payment methods and fines.
Understanding Parking Zones
There are different parking zones in Dubai, namely Zone A, Zone B, Zone C, Zone D, Zone E, Zone F, Zone G, Zone H, Zone I, Zone J and Zone K. Each zone is divided into three types of parking: commercial, non-commercial and special areas.
Dubai has also implemented a new variable parking fee system. This system aims to optimise parking space usage and reduce traffic congestion by introducing tariffs based on peak and off-peak hours. It also includes a reclassification of parking zones.
Peak and Off-Peak Hours
- Peak Hours: 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM to 8:00 PM
- Off-Peak Hours: 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM and 8:00 PM to 10:00 PM
- Free Parking: Sundays and public holidays
The traditional zone labels A, B, C and D are now known as:
- Zone A → AP
- Zone B → BP
- Zone C → CP
- Zone D → DP
Parking zones are now further classified into standard and premium categories. Standard spaces have lower rates. On the other hand, premium spaces, located in high-demand areas, are priced higher. For example, Zone AP premium charges +50% during peak.
In addition to the main zones used across Dubai, several other parking zone codes are assigned to specific commercial and residential areas to help manage traffic and demand more effectively. For instance, zones E, I, J, K and L are used within Jumeirah Lakes Towers (JLT). While Zone F covers key business districts such as Knowledge Village, Dubai Media City and Dubai Internet City.
Zone G includes high-profile locations like Burj Khalifa, Marasi Bay, Dubai Healthcare City and Dubai Hills. Zone H is designated for Dubai Silicon Oasis and Zone X is reserved for areas surrounding the Dubai World Trade Centre, where parking rates can reach AED 25 per hour during major events. These codes allow for more precise pricing and regulation based on the area’s parking demand, ensuring a smoother and more organised parking experience across the city.
Implementation and Compliance
The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) advises motorists to stay informed about the new fee structures and plan their parking accordingly. New parking signs are being installed across the city and updated zone codes are available in the Parkin app.
Detailed Breakdown of Dubai Parking Charges
Parking in Dubai will be paid for 14 hours from Monday to Saturday: 8:00 am to 10:00 pm. Parking will be free on Sundays and public holidays. Previously, Fridays were free parking days, but that has changed and now drivers have to pay for parking on Fridays. Let’s now explore the parking timings and charges in Dubai for each zone.
Zone AP
Zone AP, previously known as Zone A, refers to all roadside parking in designated commercial areas of Dubai. Zone AP is all parking and doesn’t need a specific card. You need to be aware of the rates for the number of hours you plan to park your car.
Standard Parking Tariff:
| Parking Duration | Non-peak (AED) | Peak (AED) |
| 30 minutes | 2 | 2 |
| 1 Hour | 4 | 4 |
| 2 Hour | 8 | 8 |
| 3 Hour | 12 | 12 |
| 4 Hour | 16 | 16 |
Premium Parking Tariff:
| Parking Duration | Non-peak (AED) | Peak (AED) |
| 30 minutes | 2 | 3 |
| 1 Hour | 4 | 6 |
| 2 Hour | 8 | 12 |
| 3 Hour | 12 | 18 |
| 4 Hour | 16 | 24 |
Zone BP
Zone BP parking refers to parking lots in commercial zones. The parking zone is not as busy as Zone AP and is comparatively cheaper.
Standard Parking Tariff:
| Parking Duration | Non-peak (AED) | Peak (AED) |
| 1 Hour | 3 | 4 |
| 2 Hour | 6 | 8 |
| 3 Hour | 9 | 12 |
| 4 Hour | 12 | 16 |
| 5 Hour | 16 | 20 |
| 24 Hours | 30 | 30 |
Premium Parking Tariff:
| Parking Duration | Non-peak (AED) | Peak (AED) |
| 1 Hour | 3 | 6 |
| 2 Hour | 6 | 12 |
| 3 Hour | 9 | 18 |
| 4 Hour | 12 | 24 |
| 5 Hour | 15 | 30 |
| 24 Hours | 40 | 40 |
Zone CP
Zone CP refers to non-commercial parking. All roadside parking in residential areas falls under Zone CP parking. To help drivers identify zones, signboards are already in place in all parking areas of Dubai.
Standard Parking Tariff:
| Parking Duration | Non-peak (AED) | Peak (AED) |
| 1 Hour | 2 | 4 |
| 2 Hour | 5 | 8 |
| 3 Hour | 8 | 12 |
| 4 Hour | 11 | 16 |
Premium Parking Tariff:
| Parking Duration | Non-peak (AED) | Peak (AED) |
| 1 Hour | 2 | 6 |
| 2 Hour | 5 | 12 |
| 3 Hour | 8 | 18 |
| 4 Hour | 11 | 11 |
Zone DP
Zone DP also refers to parking lots in non-commercial areas. The parking charges in this parking zone are the cheapest. Residential areas, including Al Qusais and Al Nahda, fall in Zone DP.
Standard Parking Tariff:
| Parking Duration | Non-peak (AED) | Peak (AED) |
| 1 Hour | 2 | 4 |
| 2 Hour | 4 | 8 |
| 3 Hour | 5 | 12 |
| 4 Hour | 7 | 16 |
| 24 Hours | 20 | 20 |
Premium Parking Tariff:
| Parking Duration | Non-peak (AED) | Peak (AED) |
| 1 Hour | 2 | 6 |
| 2 Hour | 4 | 12 |
| 3 Hour | 5 | 18 |
| 4 Hour | 7 | 24 |
| 24 Hours | 30 | 30 |
Special Parking Zones in Dubai
Besides standard zones, Dubai also has special parking zones:
Zone E
Zone E parking spaces are special areas. Zone E covers both underground and public parking lots of the Jumeirah Lakes Towers. The underground parking is free.
Parking tariff:
| Parking Duration | Non-peak (AED) | Peak (AED) |
| 1 Hour | 10 | 10 |
| 2 Hour | 20 | 20 |
| 3 Hour | 30 | 30 |
| 4 Hour | 40 | 40 |
Zone F
This is the dedicated parking lot for all the Tecom areas, including The Knowledge Village Hotel, Dubai Media City and Dubai Internet City. Effective February 1st 2025, parking rates and timings across Zone F have been increased.
Parking tariff:
| Parking Duration | Non-peak (AED) | Peak (AED) |
| 30 minutes | 2 | 2 |
| 1 Hour | 4 | 4 |
| 2 Hour | 8 | 8 |
| 3 Hour | 12 | 12 |
| 4 Hour | 16 | 16 |
| 5 Hour | 20 | 20 |
| 6 Hour | 24 | 24 |
| 7 Hour | 28 | 28 |
| 24 Hour | 32 | 32 |
Zone GP
This includes all the paid parking areas of Downtown Dubai, including Burj Khalifa, Business Bay area and Dubai Health Care City Area.
Parking tariff:
| Parking Duration | Non-peak (AED) | Peak (AED) |
| 1 Hour | 4 | 6 |
| 2 Hour | 8 | 12 |
| 3 Hour | 12 | 18 |
| 4 Hour | 16 | 24 |
Zone G
This parking zone covers the Dubai Hills area.
Parking tariff:
| Parking Duration | Non-peak (AED) | Peak (AED) |
| 1 Hour | 4 | 4 |
| 2 Hour | 8 | 8 |
| 3 Hour | 12 | 12 |
| 4 Hour | 16 | 16 |
Zone H
This includes all the parking lots in Dubai Silicon Oasis.
Parking tariff:
| Parking Duration | Non-peak (AED) | Peak (AED) |
| 30 minutes | 2 | 2 |
| 1 Hour | 4 | 4 |
| 2 Hour | 8 | 8 |
| 3 Hour | 12 | 12 |
| 4 Hour | 16 | 16 |
Zone I
RTA introduced three parking codes in Jumeirah Lake Tower: Zone I, J, K and L. Zone I represents ‘prime parking’, with a total of three hours of maximum stay.
Parking tariff:
| Parking Duration | Non-peak (AED) | Peak (AED) |
| 1 Hour | 10 | 10 |
| 2 Hour | 20 | 20 |
| 3 Hour | 30 | 30 |
| 4 Hour | 40 | 40 |
Zone J
Zone J parking lots in JLT allow a short stay with a maximum of three hours.
Parking tariff:
| Parking Duration | Non-peak (AED) | Peak (AED) |
| 30 minutes | 2 | 3 |
| 1 Hour | 4 | 6 |
| 2 Hour | 8 | 12 |
| 3 Hour | 12 | 18 |
| 4 Hour | 22 | 28 |
Zone K
Again, the parking lots in Zone K are assigned to vehicles for shorter stays with a maximum of four hours. Zone K is one of the parking zones with 24/7 parking tickets in Dubai.
Parking tariff:
| Parking Duration | Non-peak (AED) | Peak (AED) |
| 30 minutes | 2 | 3 |
| 1 Hour | 4 | 6 |
| 2 Hour | 8 | 12 |
| 3 Hour | 12 | 18 |
| 4 Hour | 16 | 24 |
| 5 Hour | 20 | 30 |
| 6 Hour | 24 | 36 |
| 24 Hour | 40 | 40 |
Zone L
This zone is also dedicated to JLT areas.
Parking tariff:
| Parking Duration | Non-peak (AED) | Peak (AED) |
| 30 minutes | 2 | 3 |
| 1 Hour | 4 | 6 |
| 2 Hour | 8 | 12 |
| 3 Hour | 12 | 18 |
| 4 Hour | 22 | 28 |
Zone WP
The parking lots in Zone WP are dedicated for vehicles in Al Kifaf.
| Parking Duration | Non-peak (AED) | Peak (AED) |
| 30 minutes | 2 | 3 |
| 1 Hour | 4 | 6 |
| 2 Hour | 8 | 12 |
| 3 Hour | 12 | 18 |
| 4 Hour | 16 | 24 |
Zone W
Zone W is assigned for Qusais First, Al Karama and Madinat Dubai Al Melaheyah.
| Parking Duration | Non-peak (AED) | Peak (AED) |
| 30 minutes | 2 | 2 |
| 1 Hour | 4 | 4 |
| 2 Hour | 8 | 8 |
| 3 Hour | 12 | 12 |
| 4 Hour | 16 | 16 |
Zone X
Cars in Trade Centre First, Trade Centre Second and Zaa’beel Second can be parked in Zone X.
| Parking Duration | Non-peak (AED) | Peak (AED) |
| 30 minutes | 2 | 3 |
| 1 Hour | 4 | 6 |
| 2 Hour | 8 | 12 |
| 3 Hour | 12 | 18 |
| 4 Hour | 16 | 24 |
| During Events | 25 AED per hour for 4 hours | 25 AED per hour for 4 hours |
The timings of these zones are: Monday to Saturday from 8:00 am to 10:00 pm with no breaks in between.
Effective 17th February 2025, the per-hour parking fees were increased to AED 25 during events and near event areas. This mostly includes the areas around the World Trade Centre, also known as the ‘Grand Event Zone’. The new rates apply to zone codes 335X, 336X and 337.
Public Parking Tariffs in Mirdif
The RTA, through its public parking operator Parkin, has introduced a new public parking zone in Mirdif as part of its ongoing expansion of Dubai’s variable parking tariff system. Effective Monday, May 26, the area now includes two designated paid parking zones:
- Zone 251C: On-street parking
- Zone 251D: Off-street parking (parking lots)
These zones are managed under the city’s variable pricing structure to optimise space usage and reduce congestion
Tariffs for Zone 251C (On-Street Parking)
Variable pricing applies depending on the time of day:
Non-Peak Hours
- AED 2 per hour
- AED 11 for 4 hours
Peak Hours
- AED 4 per hour
- AED 16 for 4 hours
Zone 251C is ideal for short visits or errands, especially in commercial areas with high turnover.
Tariffs for Zone 251D (Off-Street Parking)
More suitable for longer stays or full-day parking:
- Non-Peak Hours: AED 2 per hour
- Peak Hours: AED 4 per hour
- Daily Rate: AED 20 (for 24 hours)
This zone caters to residents, workers and long-stay visitors needing secure, all-day parking.
Note: An additional 30 Fils will be deducted from the customer’s balance if they settle the fees through SMS. Whereas, when paying with the smart application or via WhatsApp, no additional fees will be charged. Please also note that the Al Khail Gate area is now exempt from parking fees. Lastly, all parking zones offer free parking in Dubai on Sunday and other public holidays and at the time of Iftar during Ramadan. To avoid any inconvenience, stay updated on the latest changes to free car parking timings in Dubai.
Parking Area Categories
Paid parking zones in Dubai are categorised into two areas: category one and category two. Areas covered by Zone A and B are category one. Areas that fall under this category include:
- Deira: Abu Hail, Hor Al Anz, Al Baraha, Al Muteena, Al Khabaisi, Al Muraqabat, Rigga Al Buteen, Port Saeed, Al Rigga, Naif, Ayal Nasir, Deira Fish Market, Al Ras and Al Buteen.
- Bur Dubai: As for parking towards Bur Dubai, areas like Al Shindagha, Al Souq Al Kabeer, Al Hamriya, Umm Hurair 1, 2, Oud Metha, Al Karama, Al Mankhool, Al Raffa, Al Hudaiba, Al Kifaf, 2nd December street and the sector between Dubai World Trade Centre and Interchange One on Shaikh Zayed Road.
- Jumeirah: Jumeirah Beach Residence and the JBR Walk, 308th street and Al Saada Street, parallel to Shaikh Zayed Road between Dubai World Trade Centre and Interchange One.
All zones that do not fall into category one in the rest of Dubai are category two.
How to Pay Parking Charges in Dubai
Paying for your parking in Dubai is quite simple. You can choose any of the following methods:
mParking
If you are thinking about how to park by SMS in Dubai, mParking is the answer. This is Dubai’s mobile payment system. RTA offers the mParking e-service to make it easy for drivers to pay for paid parking in Dubai with the help of an SMS message from their mobile phone. Just follow the SMS format given by RTA and pay for your parking.
For Dubai, send an SMS to 7275 (PARK) in this format: number plate-space-area code-number of hours. Motorists can also receive hourly alerts to renew their parking tickets at an extra charge of 30 fils per SMS. Mobile parking is also available for non-Dubai vehicles. Here is a complete guide on mobile parking for non-Dubai vehicles.
RTA Dubai or Dubai Drive Application
You can easily pay your parking charges with the RTA Dubai or Dubai Drive application. Just download the application, register your vehicle in the app and follow the instructions to pay your parking fee.
Paid Parking Machines
You can buy parking tickets using coins from the nearest parking machine. When you get the ticket, place it visibly on the dashboard.
Prepaid Cards
Pre-paid parking cards are available at grocery stores and supermarkets. Just insert the card in the parking machine when you park before leaving. The parking charge for that particular zone will be deducted. These cards are available in denominations of AED 30, AED 50 and AED 100.
Seasonal Parking Cards
You can buy seasonal parking cards for selected parking lots in categories A and B. These cards have a validity of three months, six months or a year.
Nol Card
Nol card users can use their card to buy a parking ticket. The amount gets deducted from their card.
Banks with RFID
RTA Dubai enables citizens with RFID bank cards to pay for parking fees easily with their cards. Just charge your RFID card and each time you want to make a parking payment, tap it to the parking fee payment device and the balance will be deducted from the card.
NFC on Smartphones
RTA introduced an easy option to pay parking charges in Dubai for smartphone owners with the help of NFC (Near Field Communication) technology. You can now make a secure transaction easily to pay for parking in Dubai. All you have to do is tap your phone against the numerous POS access points placed by RTA.
You can easily send a WhatsApp message to RTA and pay for parking. The process is pretty simple: send a WhatsApp message to Mahboub (RTA’s Chatbot) at 971588009090.
The WhatsApp message should be designed like a regular SMS to pay for RTA parking in Dubai:
- [Plate Number] [Space][Zone Number] [Space][Duration]
Paying via WhatsApp even saves you from the 30 fils that apply to regular SMS.
Parking Fines in Dubai
Parking rules in Dubai are enforced by the RTA to ensure compliance with parking regulations. Violations can lead to substantial penalties, depending on the nature and severity of the offence. Following is a list of parking fines in Dubai:
- If you have not paid the parking tariff, or the ticket is not visible, the parking fine is AED 150
- If your vehicle is in a parking space over the parking time, you will be fined AED 100
- The parking fine for going over the maximum parking hours is AED 100
- The parking fine for obstructing or misusing a parking facility is AED 200
- If your vehicle crosses the sidewalk or is standing on a sidewalk, the parking fine is AED 200
- If you have parked your car in a forbidden parking space, you will be fined AED 200
- Parking a car without a number plate, you will be fined a hefty amount of AED 1,000
- Unauthorised use of special need parking, using an expired permit, results in a parking fine of AED 1,000
- Parking a vehicle in a reserved spot or parking a vehicle without a permit results in a fine of AED 1,000
- If you harm a parking ticket machine, zone plates or parking areas, you will be fined AED 1,000
- Fine for placing a parking umbrella over a vehicle without a permit is AED 1,000
These fines are subject to change and it’s advisable to keep an eye on these traffic penalties in Dubai.
FAQs
Is parking free on Fridays and public holidays in Dubai?
No, parking is not free in Dubai on Fridays. However, parking is free on Sundays and other public holidays.
Can I extend parking in Dubai via SMS/app?
Yes, you can extend your parking in Dubai via SMS or mobile apps. To extend via SMS, send ‘Y’ to 7275 (PARK) before your current session expires.
Is parking free during Eid Al Adha?
During Eid Al Adha, RTA parking in Dubai is free, except at multi-level parking terminals.
How can I utilise Mparking or SMS parking in Dubai?
If you are an unregistered user, simply send an sms to 7275 in this format: < Plate No.><space> <Zone No.><space><Duration>. Registered users can send sms to 7275 in this format: < Nickname><space> <Zone No.><space><Duration>.
Can I pay for parking using the RTA mobile app?
Yes, you can use the RTA app to pay parking charges, track time, extend sessions and even apply for permits.
How can I use a Nol card for parking payments?
Tap your Nol card on the parking meter reader. It will deduct the parking fee based on the time selected. Ensure you have enough credit on your card.
That is all about the car parking in Dubai. Thanks to the comprehensive systems, it is easier to drive your own car in Dubai without worrying about parking. Besides, these RTA’s Smart Directional Signs have made public parking easier.
If you don’t own a car yet and are looking to buy one, browse through this list of new cars for sale in Dubai and find the one you want.
Stay tuned to UAE’s top car blog for more information on used cars, parking guides, public transport and places to visit for car enthusiasts.
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