Dubai: Visiting a new emirate over the weekend but not sure if parking is free or not? Emirates across the UAE implement free parking one day a week, but the day itself may vary, depending on where you are.
Here is all you need to know about when parking is free in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and Ajman.
Dubai - Sundays
Parking is free on Sundays in Dubai, as well as after 10pm and before 8am every day.
However, there may be exceptions to this rule, as multi-storey carparks operate 24/7 and you would need to pay for parking regardless of when you are using the service.
Parking in regular paid parking area (except multi-storey parking) is also free on public holidays, and is announced by Parkin and the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) in advance.
SMS number for parking: 7275
Message format: [Plate Number] [Zone Code] [Duration in Hours]
If your car is registered in another emirate, add the emirate code before the plate number.
For example, if you have an Abu Dhabi registered car, with the plate number 11 1234, and you want to park for two hours in the parking zone 343C, you would need to send the following message to 7275: ‘AUH11 1234 343C 2’
Emirates codes:
- Abu Dhabi – AUH
- Sharjah – SHJ
- Ajman – AJM
- Fujairah – FUJ
- Umm Al Quwain – UAQ
- Ras Al Khaimah - RAK
Abu Dhabi - Sundays
In Abu Dhabi, too, parking is free on Sundays, public holidays and every day after 12am to 8am, according to MAWAQiF, the parking management department of the Integrated Transport Centre (ITC) in Abu Dhabi.
Multi-storey parking facilities, however, operate 24/7 and you would need to pay for parking, regardless of when you are using the service.
SMS number for parking: 3009
Message format: [City and plate code] [Plate number] [Parking type – S or P] [Duration]
There are two types of parking zones in Abu Dhabi – standard (marked black and blue) and premium (marked white and blue).
If you have a car registered in Sharjah ‘3 1234’, and you want to park in a standard parking spot for two hours, you would need to send the following SMS to 3009: ‘SHJ3 1234 S 2’.
Emirate codes:
- Abu Dhabi – AUH
- Sharjah – SHJ
- Ajman – AJM
- Fujairah – FUJ
- Umm Al Quwain – UAQ
- Ras Al Khaimah - RAK
Sharjah – Fridays
In Sharjah, parking is free on Fridays, public holidays, and every day after 10pm and before 8am.
However, there are specific parking zones that operate on all days – like the parking area around the popular Sharjah Central Souq. These parking areas have blue boards, which clearly state that parking is charged on all seven days of the week, including public holidays.
SMS number for parking: 5566
Message format: [Plate Source] [Plate Number] [Duration in Hours]
All parking zones across Sharjah have the same hourly charges, so all you need to do is enter your emirate code, plate number and the number of hours you wish to park for and send an SMS to 5566.
For example, if you have a Dubai registered car with the number plate AA 12345, and you wish to park for two hours in a paid parking zone, you would need to send the following SMS to 5566: ‘DXB 12345 2’
Ajman - Fridays
In Ajman, too, parking is free on Fridays, public holidays and every day after 10pm and before 8am.
SMS number: 5155
Message format: [Plate Source] [Plate Code] [Plate Number]
In Ajman, too, all zones charge similarly for paid parking, so all you need to do is enter your Emirate code, your car plate number and the number of hours you wish to pay for.
For example, if you have a Umm Al Quwain registered car, with the plate number M 1234 and you want to pay for three hours of parking, you need to send an SMS in the following format: ‘UAQ 1234 3’