Dubai has at least eight different ways to pay for RTA parking: SMS, WhatsApp, the RTA Dubai app, the DubaiNow app, a Nol card, coins, a seasonal parking card, or a contactless bank card/digital wallet.
Texting 7275 is still the fastest option for a single visit, but if you park often, a seasonal card or one of the apps can save you time and a few dirhams per session.
Below is every method with real steps, current zone rates, and when parking is free.
Dubai Parking Zones and Hourly Rates
Whichever method you use, the rate you pay depends on which zone you’re parked in:
| Zone | Area type | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| A | Commercial (Downtown, DIFC) | AED 4/hour |
| B | Commercial (less busy areas) | AED 3/hour |
| C | Residential | AED 2/hour |
| D | Residential (e.g. Al Qusais, Al Nahda) | AED 2/hour |
| E | Special (Deira Fish Market area) | AED 4/hour |
| F | Special (Barsha Heights/TECOM) | AED 2/hour |
| G | Special (Downtown/Burj Khalifa area) | AED 4/hour |
| I | Special (JLT Upper Commercial) | AED 10/hour — Dubai’s most expensive public parking |
Parking is free across zones on Sundays and official public holidays, and most zones are also free overnight from 10pm to 8am. During Ramadan, most zones additionally waive charges during the iftar window.
1. Pay by SMS (mParking)
The original and still the fastest method for a one-off visit — no app or account needed.
- Open your phone’s messaging app.
- Type your message in the format: <Plate Number> <Zone Code> <Duration>
- Example: A1020 336C 3 — plate A1020, zone 336C, 3 hours.
- Send it to 7275.
You’ll get a confirmation message right away, and a second message about 10 minutes before your time runs out — reply Y to that message to extend for the same duration. Each SMS costs roughly AED 0.30 on top of the zone’s hourly rate.
SMS Format If Your Car Isn’t Registered in Dubai
Vehicles from other emirates or a few neighboring GCC countries use a slightly longer format: <Emirate Code> <Plate Code> <Plate Number> <Zone Code><Duration>.
| Emirate / Country | Code |
|---|---|
| Abu Dhabi | AUH |
| Sharjah | SHJ |
| Ajman | AJM |
| Umm Al Quwain | UAQ |
| Ras Al Khaimah | RAK |
| Fujairah | FUJ |
| Saudi Arabia | KSA |
| Kuwait | KWT |
| Bahrain | BAH |
| Oman | OMN |
Examples: SHJ2 01111 000B 6 (Sharjah) or RAKN 00000 000D 2 (Ras Al Khaimah). For motorcycles, start the message with B, then follow the same structure — for example: B AUH14 55555 335C 1/5.
2. Pay via WhatsApp (RTA’s Mahboub Bot)
If you’d rather not worry about getting the SMS spacing exactly right, RTA also offers a guided WhatsApp option through its chatbot, Mahboub, and paying this way is typically a few fils cheaper than SMS.
- Save RTA’s chatbot, Mahboub, at +971 58 800 9090 to your contacts.
- Open a WhatsApp chat with that number.
- Send the same <Plate> <Zone> <Duration> format used for SMS.
- You’ll get a confirmation reply from the bot.
3. Pay via the RTA Dubai App
The official RTA Dubai app lets you pay by card, e-wallet, Apple Pay, or SMS from inside the app, and sends you renewal reminders automatically.
- Download the app: App Store or Google Play.
- Tap “Login/Register” — sign in with UAE Pass or create a new account.
- Select “Parking,” then “Pay Public Parking Fees.”
- Choose your zone, either by letting the app auto-detect your location or by dropping a pin on the map manually.
- Go to “Manage Vehicles” and add your plate number and emirate code if you haven’t already.
- Review the zone’s timings and hourly rate shown on screen.
- Tap “Ready to pay?” and choose your payment method — Visa/Mastercard, RTA e-wallet balance, Apple Pay, or SMS.
- Confirm the payment. You’ll receive a digital parking permit in the app.
- To extend your session, open the “Parking” tab and tap “Renew” — the app also sends you reminders before your time runs out.
4. Pay via the DubaiNow App
DubaiNow is Dubai’s general government-services super-app, and it can also handle parking payments alongside things like utility bills and fines.
- Download the app: App Store or Google Play.
- Log in using UAE Pass.
- Go to the “Driving” section.
- Enter your parking details — zone, plate number, and duration — and pay.
5. Pay with a Nol Card
The same Nol card you use for the Dubai Metro and buses also works at Nol-enabled parking meters. Insert the card, select your duration, and the fee is deducted automatically — the meter prints (or displays) a ticket to leave on your dashboard.
Don’t have a Nol card yet, or need to top it up first? See our guides on buying a Nol card in Dubai and checking your Nol card balance before you head to the meter.
6. Buy a Seasonal Parking Card
If you park in the same area regularly, a seasonal parking card can work out cheaper than paying per session. RTA offers three tiers:
| Card type | 1 month | 3 months | 6 months | 1 year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| My Parking General | AED 500 | AED 1,400 | AED 2,500 | AED 4,500 |
| My Parking Area | AED 250 | AED 700 | AED 1,300 | AED 2,400 |
| My Parking Multi Storey | — | AED 2,000 | AED 4,000 | AED 8,000 |
“Card A” covers Zones A, B, and C between 8am and 10pm; “Card B” covers Zones B and D. Specialty zones like Silicon Oasis, TECOM, and Al Khail Gate have their own separate rates, and cards aren’t valid in RTA’s “Development Areas.
” Eligibility is limited to light vehicles, with a maximum of 3 vehicles per individual (1 per permit for companies), and the vehicle must generally be Dubai-registered.
You can buy or renew a seasonal card — up to a month before it expires — via the RTA website or Smart App, RTA self-service machines, the Mahboub WhatsApp chatbot, or in person at one of RTA’s Customer Happiness Centres (Al Kifaf, Al Barsha, Umm Ramool, Al Manarah, or Al Twar).
7. Pay with Coins
Traditional parking meters still accept AED 1 and 50 fils coins. Insert your coins and select the duration you need directly on the meter — useful as a backup if your phone is out of balance or the RTA systems are briefly down.
8. Pay with a Bank Card or Digital Wallet
At many meters and multistorey car parks, you can also tap to pay directly:
- Contactless bank cards — RFID-enabled Visa/Mastercard, tapped directly at the meter or paid through the RTA Dubai or DubaiNow apps.
- Apple Pay or Samsung Pay — tap your phone or watch against the payment machine, mainly available at multistorey car parks.
- NFC on supported Android smartphones — same tap-to-pay mechanism, also mainly at multistorey car parks.
How to Find Your Parking Zone Code
Look for the orange-and-blue “Paid Parking” signboard near your spot — it carries an SMS phone icon and a code such as 336C. That code is what you enter into the SMS, WhatsApp message, or app, regardless of which payment method you use.
What Happens If You Don’t Pay or the Service Is Down?
Parking without a valid ticket — including letting your SMS or app ticket expire without renewing — risks a parking fine, so it’s worth extending the moment you get a warning message if you’re staying longer.
RTA’s mParking service and app have occasionally gone down for short periods in the past; if one method doesn’t go through, try WhatsApp, the RTA Dubai app, or DubaiNow as a fallback before assuming you’re not covered.
FAQs
What number do I text to pay for parking in Dubai?
Send your SMS to 7275, in the format <Plate Number> <Zone Code> <Duration>.
What are all the ways to pay for parking in Dubai?
SMS to 7275, WhatsApp via RTA’s Mahboub bot, the RTA Dubai app, the DubaiNow app, a Nol card, a seasonal parking card, coins at traditional meters, or a contactless bank card/digital wallet (Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, NFC) at supported meters and multistorey car parks.
How much does parking cost per hour in Dubai?
It depends on the zone — from AED 2/hour in residential and lower-demand zones up to AED 10/hour in Zone I (JLT Upper Commercial), Dubai’s most expensive public parking zone. Most commercial zones fall around AED 3–4/hour.
Is parking free in Dubai on Sundays or public holidays?
Yes — parking is free across zones on Sundays and official public holidays, and most zones are also free overnight from 10pm to 8am.
Is a seasonal parking card worth it?
If you park regularly in the same zone, it can be cheaper than paying per session — RTA’s “My Parking Area” card starts at AED 250/month, and “My Parking General” at AED 500/month, both with discounted 3, 6, and 12-month rates.
Can I pay for Dubai parking if my car isn’t registered in Dubai?
Yes — use the extended SMS format that adds your emirate or country code before your plate number, for example SHJ2 01111 000B 6 for a Sharjah-registered car, or use the RTA Dubai app after adding your vehicle under “Manage Vehicles.”
