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What is it about? Parking in Dubai is strictly regulated, and violations incur substantial fines. Places where cars can be parked are divided into 11 zones with their own rates and operating hours.
What to pay attention to? Parking payments can be made in cash through parking meters or cashless via applications, SMS, prepaid cards, NFC, or messenger.
Dubai has 11 types of zones for car parking. They are divided according to their purpose. Each zone has its own rules. For example, some have time limits for how long you can leave your car in the parking space.
This category includes roadside parking in certain commercial areas of the city. The parking operates Monday through Saturday. Parking of this type in Dubai is paid and open from 8 AM to 10 PM. Depending on the duration of parking, the rates are:
The rules and conditions are similar to the previous type of parking. The main difference of Zone B is that they are located in less visited areas. Therefore, they are not as heavily loaded, and using a parking space costs less.
Parking costs:
Such parking spaces are located in areas of Dubai where there are no shopping centres or popular tourist attractions. Predominantly, this class includes roadside parking in residential areas of the city. Operating hours are from 8 AM to 10 PM. The rates are relatively low:
Zone D is also classified as non-commercial. It includes areas in quarters predominantly built up with residential buildings and associated infrastructure. This type of parking includes, for example, car parks in areas such as Al Qusais and Al Nahda. The operating schedule does not differ from the previous ones. The parking cost in Zone D is the lowest in the emirate:
This category includes special areas of the city. Zone E has both underground and outdoor parking. Unlike other zones, you can leave your car there for a longer period — they operate until 11 PM. The standard operating schedule is Monday through Saturday.
Underground parking in Zone E in Dubai is free, while a space in the open car park will cost according to the following price list:
Many areas in the Tecom district belong to zone F. Car parks operate on a reduced schedule. They open at 8 AM and close at 6 PM. A parking space costs:
This category includes areas in districts with heavy traffic. For example, Marassi Bay and Burj Khalifa. Cars can be parked Monday through Saturday from 8 AM to 10 PM. Keep in mind that since 2022 parking in Dubai on Fridays is now paid, and the free parking day has been moved to Sunday; parking during holidays is still free. On other days, you will have to pay:
Such zones include parking in the Dubai Silicon Oasis area. There, payment for 30 minutes of use is provided. Car parks operate on a standard schedule — Monday through Saturday from 8 AM to 10 PM. Parking costs:
This and the following two zones include parking areas in Jumeirah Lake Tower. Car parks in this category are the most convenient and prestigious. A car can be parked there for up to 3 hours.
Like most car parks, Zone I operates as follows: Monday–Saturday from 8 AM to 10 PM. Due to high demand and convenient location, the parking cost is slightly increased:
This zone differs from the previous one in that you can pay for car parking for half an hour. In everything else, including location in the Jumeirah Lake Towers area, these car parks in Dubai are identical. The maximum parking time is 3 hours. Tariff plan:
Car parks in this zone are designed for long-term car parking. The operating mode is standard: Monday–Saturday. To park a car in a parking space, you need to make payment according to the following rates:
Besides zonal division, there is also classification by other characteristics. All parking in Dubai belongs to two categories. The first combines all car parks in the central business districts of the city: Deira, Jumeirah, Bur Dubai, Dubai Marina, etc.
Service cost:
The second category includes all other car parks, located predominantly in residential areas.
Prices:
| In a row along pavements | Parking spaces in squares | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration, hour | Price AED / $ | Duration, hour | Price AED / $ |
| 1 | 2 / 0.55 | 1 | 2 / 0.55 |
| 2 | 5 / 1.35 | 2 | 4 / 1.10 |
| 3 | 8 / 2.20 | 3 | 5 / 1.35 |
| 4 | 11 / 3 | 4 | 7 / 1.90 |
| 24 | 10 / 2.70 | ||
Car parking in the special zone located in the DMCC — JLT area is carried out at special rates. Payment is possible around the clock, with the cost being 4–10 dirhams or $1.9–2.7. Remember that almost all parking in Dubai is free on Sundays and holidays.
Let's explain in detail how to pay for parking in Dubai. There are several most common payment methods, each of which will best suit different categories of tourists and UAE citizens.
At the entrances to many car parks, there are specialized machines that accept payment and issue a ticket to the car driver, giving the right to use a parking space. The machines accept coins from 1 AED to 50 fils. The payment receipt should be attached to the windscreen or dashboard in such a way that it is visible from the outside.
You can purchase special cards of various denominations in advance: 30, 50, or 100 dirhams. They are sold in most shopping centres of the emirate. Payment is made by placing the card in a special receiving device of the machine. The required amount will be deducted automatically.
In addition to the aforementioned, cards with unlimited balance are also popular, which are valid for 3 or 6 months, or even one year. They can be used to pay for a parking space in car parks belonging to zones A and B.
These are plastic payment means whose balance can be topped up by transferring any necessary amount. NOL cards are the most convenient type of cards that can be used almost any time.
If a tourist owns a bank card or a smartphone that supports the NFC function, parking can be paid for using this method as well. Simply place the phone against the terminal display, and the required amount will be automatically deducted from the account.
To implement this option, you need to have a local SIM card issued by a UAE mobile operator. Payment is made by sending a message to number 7275. The text should include: car number-space-city code-parking time in hours. A commission fee of 0.30 dirhams will be additionally charged from the driver for sending the message. Before using this method, it is recommended to check the balance.
You can avoid paying the mandatory commission fee if you send a message in the same format to number 971588009090 using the popular WhatsApp messenger.
In the United Arab Emirates, there are quite strict laws regulating parking procedures. Any deviations from compliance with the rules are punished with sanctions. Let's list some types of violations that will result in a fine. This list is not complete, as authorities often review both the list of unacceptable actions and the measures of punishment.
| Violation | Fine, AED |
|---|---|
| Exceeding maximum parking time | 100 |
| Occupying a parking space beyond paid time | 100 |
| No payment made or receipt not visible | 150 |
| Crossing a pedestrian walkway or parking on the pavement | 200 |
| Blocking other cars or incorrect positioning of the car within the parking space | 200 |
| Parking in a prohibited area | 200 |
| Vehicle has no number plate | 1,000 |
| Breaking (or damaging) the terminal, zone signs or parking spaces | 1,000 |
| Unauthorized use of special needs parking or using an expired permit | 1,000 |
| Parking in a reserved space or without permission | 1,000 |
| Installing a parking shade over the vehicle without obtaining permission | 1,000 |
To avoid becoming a violator, it is recommended to carefully study the parking rules before travelling to the Emirates. All necessary information can be found on the official RTA website.
How to avoid fines:
Procedure for filing an appeal against an issued fine:
In Dubai, you can park for free. Places where this can be done legally:
If you discover your vehicle is missing, you need to contact the relevant towing service at number 999. The car might have been sent to the impound lot for violating parking rules. Places where cars cannot be parked are usually marked with cross-shaped markings or broken curves.
Tourists will find applications such as RTA Dubai or Parkonic useful. Also, all the necessary information can be found on specialized websites. Given that rates and some parking rules in Dubai are quite frequently subject to changes, we recommend contacting parking operators directly or visiting their websites to obtain the most up-to-date pricing information. With the necessary information, you will always be able to comfortably visit the attractions you are interested in.
