Looking for a car parking spot in Dubai can be tough, especially during busy hours. To help, the Roads and Transportation Authority (RTA) has created user-friendly parking systems. Here is a simple guide that covers everything you need to know about pay-as-you-go RTA parking in Dubai, its seasonal parking cards, fines, and more.
RTA Parking Areas and Zones in Dubai
The RTA oversees parking in Dubai, dividing it into paid and free categories. Parking spots are found in various areas, each marked by zones A, B, C, D, E, F, and G. These parking zones are further categorised into commercial, non-commercial, and special areas.
Knowing the parking charges is important for vehicle owners and those planning to get a Dubai driving licence.
Each of these areas has different parking fees. There are no extra parking charges in any zone on Sundays and public holidays.
Let’s look at each category for paid parking in Dubai.
Category One
| Duration | Side Plot Rate | Duration | Main Plot Rate |
| 1/2 Hour | 2 AED | 1 Hour | 3 AED |
| 1 Hour | 4 AED | 2 Hours | 6 AED |
| 2 Hours | 8 AED | 3 Hours | 9 AED |
| 3 Hours | 12 AED | 4 Hours | 12 AED |
| 4 Hours | 16 AED | 5 Hours | 15 AED |
| – | – | 24 Hours | 20 AED |
Category Two
| Duration | Side Plot Rate | Duration | Main Plot Rate |
| 1 Hour | 2 AED | 1 Hour | 2 AED |
| 2 Hours | 5 AED | 2 Hours | 4 AED |
| 3 Hours | 8 AED | 3 Hours | 5 AED |
| 4 Hours | 11 AED | 4 Hours | 7 AED |
| – | – | 24 Hours | 10 AED |
RTA Parking Charges for Zone A
Zone A covers all roadside parking in commercial areas of Dubai. The RTA parking charges for Zone A are:
- AED 4 per hour
- AED 8 for 2 hours
- AED 12 for 3 hours
- AED 16 for 4 hours
- Half-hour parking for AED 2
Parking timings: 08:00 am to 10:00 pm
Ramadan timings: 08:00 am to 06:00 pm | 08:00 pm to 12:00 am
RTA Parking Charges for Zone B
Zone B includes parking spaces in less busy commercial areas. Holders of the seasonal RTA parking card type B can park in both Zones B and D. Residents in older neighbourhoods often opt for quarterly or monthly cards here as it is cheaper than Zone A.
The charges for Zone B are:
- AED 3 per hour
- AED 6 for 2 hours
- AED 9 for 3 hours
- AED 12 for 4 hours
- AED 15 for 5 hours
- AED 20 for 24 hours
Parking timings: 08:00 am to 10:00 pm
Ramadan timings: 08:00 am to 06:00 pm | 08:00 pm to 12:00 am
RTA Parking Charges for Zone C
Zone C is for roadside parking in mainly residential areas, marked with signboards. RTA prepaid parking cards can also be used.
The charges for Zone C are:
- AED 2 per hour
- AED 5 for 2 hours
- AED 8 for 3 hours
- AED 11 for 4 hours
Parking timings: 08:00 am to 10:00 pm
Ramadan timings: 08:00 am to 06:00 pm | 08:00 pm to 12:00 am
RTA Parking Charges for Zone D
Zone D includes parking in non-commercial areas and is one of the cheapest zones. It covers residential areas like Al Qusais and Al Nahda.
The charges for Zone D are:
- AED 2 per hour
- AED 4 for 2 hours
- AED 5 for 3 hours
- AED 7 for 4 hours
- AED 10 for 24 hours
Parking timings: 08:00 am to 10:00 pm
Ramadan timings: 08:00 am to 06:00 pm | 08:00 pm to 12:00 am
RTA Parking Charges for Zone E
Zone E includes special areas like the Waterfront Market (Deira Fish Market), which has both underground and public parking slots. Underground parking is free, while public parking is payable.
The charges for Zone E are:
- AED 4 per hour
- AED 8 for 2 hours
- AED 12 for 3 hours
- AED 16 for 4 hours
Parking timings: 08:00 am to 11:00 pm
Ramadan timings: 08:00 am to 06:00 pm | 08:00 pm to 12:00 am
RTA Parking Charges for Zone F
Zone F includes all Tecom areas. For more details, visit the RTA parking card service centres.
The charges for Zone F are:
- AED 2 per hour
- AED 5 for 2 hours
- AED 8 for 3 hours
- AED 11 for 4 hours
Parking timings: 08:00 am to 06:00 pm
Ramadan timings: 08:00 am to 06:00 pm | 08:00 pm to 12:00 am
RTA Parking Charges for Zone G
Zone G covers paid parking slots in Downtown Dubai, including Burj Khalifa, Marasi Bay, and Dubai Healthcare City.
The charges for Zone G are:
- AED 4 per hour
- AED 8 for 2 hours
- AED 12 for 3 hours
- AED 16 for 4 hours
Parking timings: 08:00 am to 10:00 pm
Ramadan timings: 08:00 am to 06:00 pm | 08:00 pm to 12:00 am
DMCC – JLT Parking Zones in Dubai
Certain areas in Dubai have specialised parking rules beyond the standard zones. Let’s look at these specific zones.
Currently, seasonal RTA parking cards cannot be used in Jumeirah Lakes Towers (JLT). Instead, parking fees must be paid through smart payment methods like mParking or the RTA Dubai mobile app.
Prime Parking Upper Level (Code I)
RTA offers Prime Parking in JLT, which is more expensive but limited to three hours at a time. The charges are:
- AED 10 for 1 hour
- AED 20 for 2 hours
- AED 30 for 3 hours
- AED 40 for 4 hours
Upper Level (Code J)
The charges for parking on the Upper Level (Code J) are:
- AED 2 for 1/2 hour
- AED 4 for 1 hour
- AED 8 for 2 hours
- AED 12 for 3 hours
- AED 22 for 4 hours
Maximum stay: 4 hours
Parking (Code K)
Parking in JLT, managed jointly by the RTA and DMCC, has varying costs between AED 4 and AED 32 per hour, with a maximum stay of 24 hours.
- AED 2 for 1/2 hour
- AED 4 for 1 hour
- AED 8 for 2 hours
- AED 12 for 3 hours
- AED 16 for 4 hours
- AED 20 for 5 hours
- AED 24 for 6 hours
- AED 28 for 7 hours
- AED 32 for 8 hours to 24 Hours
Please note that JLT permit cards are not valid for the Code K parking zone.
RTA Seasonal Parking Cards in Dubai:
RTA seasonal parking cards, which come in two types: A and B, are a great option for those without free parking at their office or home.
Check out the free parking zones in Dubai.
Each card can be used in its designated area and allows you to pay for parking for three, six, or twelve months at a time. The best part is that these cards offer discounted parking rates in Dubai.
RTA Parking Card Prices in Dubai:
The prices for RTA parking cards in Dubai vary based on your chosen period and validity. You can select the amount to pay for the cards according to your needs.
| Type of Permit | 3 Months | 6 Months | Yearly |
| My Parking “General” | AED 1,400 | AED 2,500 | AED 4,500 |
| My Parking “Area” | AED 700 | AED 1,300 | AED 2,400 |
| My Parking “Multistory” | AED 2,000 | AED 4,000 | AED 8,000 |
| My Parking “Student” | AED 300 | – | – |
| Silicon Oasis Zone | AED 1,400 | AED 2,500 | AED 4,500 |
| TECOM Zone | AED 700 | AED 1,300 | AED 2,500 |
How to Pay for RTA Parking Charges in Dubai?
The RTA offers multiple convenient payment methods to make the process hassle-free:
Pay RTA Parking Charges Through mParking (SMS)
- Compose an SMS: Send your vehicle plate number, zone code, and parking duration to 7275.
- Example: “A12345 A 1” for one hour in Zone A.
- Receive Confirmation: You will receive an SMS confirmation with your parking details.
Pay RTA Parking Charges Through RTA App
- Download the App: Available on both Android and iOS.
- Register: Enter your vehicle details and payment information.
- Select Parking: Choose the parking zone and duration.
- Payment: Complete the payment through the app.
Pay RTA Parking Charges Through Parking Meters
- Locate a Meter: Found near most parking zones.
- Enter Details: Enter your vehicle plate number and select the parking duration.
- Pay: Use coins or a Nol card to pay.
Pay RTA Parking Charges Through Nol Card
- Register Your Nol Card: Link it to your RTA account.
- Use at Meters: Tap the card on parking meters to pay.
Additionally you can use:
- Apple Pay: Use Apple Pay on your Apple devices for a secure and easy parking payment.
- Samsung Pay (for multistorey car parks): Samsung Pay is accepted at more locations and makes parking payments safe and simple with MST and NFC support.
- Bank Cards with RFID: Use your RFID-enabled bank card for safe and secure parking payments.
- NFC on Smartphones (for multistorey car parks): Make quick and secure parking payments by tapping your smartphone with NFC against a POS access point.
RTA Parking Violation Fines
Here is a list of fines you might face if you do not follow the RTA parking rules and regulations:
| Violation | Fine Amount |
| Exceeding parking time | AED 100 |
| Non-payment of parking fees or tickets not visible | AED 150 |
| Exceeding maximum parking hours | AED 100 |
| Obstruction/Misuse of parking facility | AED 200 |
| Vehicles crossing the sidewalk or standing on it | AED 200 |
| Use of forbidden parking | AED 200 |
| Parking a vehicle without a plate number | AED 1,000 |
| Unauthorised use of People of Determination parking, expired permit, or permit not visible | AED 1,000 |
| Parking a vehicle in reserved parking or not showing a permit | AED 1,000 |
| Car demonstration for sale or rent in a restricted area | AED 1,000 |
| Implementing parking umbrella without a permit | AED 1,000 |
Final Takeaway:
That’s all for the different RTA parking charges in Dubai. We hope this guide is useful for purchasing seasonal parking cards or understanding the new parking rates for different areas.
We recommend downloading the official RTA app for detailed information on parking slots and payment options. If you are exploring other ways to get around the city, check out the public transportation apps in Dubai.
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By following this comprehensive guide, you’ll be well-equipped to easily and confidently navigate Dubai’s parking system.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
Q. When is parking free in Dubai?
Dubai offers free parking on Sundays and public holidays. Each zone has specific parking regulations and fees. When paying through SMS, an additional 30 fils are deducted from the customer’s balance. There are no extra fees for payment through the smart application or WhatsApp.
Q. Is parking expensive in Dubai?
Dubai parking fees generally range from AED 2 to AED 20 per hour, depending on the parking zone. Rates are higher in commercial and densely-populated areas such as Downtown Dubai, Mall of the Emirates, Burj Khalifa, Business Bay, Dubai Marina, and Jumeirah Beach Residence (JBR).
