+971 58 642 7299
+971 58 642 7299
Paid parking in Dubai runs Monday to Saturday from 08:00 to 22:00 and costs AED 2.10 to 6.30 an hour on most streets. It is free overnight and on Sundays. Pay in the Parkin app or by SMS to 7275.
Parking Hours and Rules in Dubai
Public parking in Dubai is run by Parkin under a concession from the RTA. Paid hours are Monday to Saturday, 08:00 to 22:00. Parking is free between 22:00 and 08:00, on Sundays and on public holidays. During Ramadan the paid hours change to 08:00 to 18:00 and 20:00 to 22:00.
Some places ignore the free periods. Multi-storey car parks charge around the clock, at AED 5 an hour plus 5% VAT or AED 40 plus VAT for 24 hours. Business Bay is paid every day until 23:59. The mosque zones M and MP, Al Quoz Industrial Second (zone N), the fruit and vegetable market (zone V) and zone W in Al Karama and Al Qusais are paid 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Read the sign before you assume a place is free.
Two changes affect visitors. Since April 2025, premium zones in busy areas such as Downtown Dubai, Business Bay, Deira and Jumeirah use peak and off-peak prices, with peak hours from 08:00 to 10:00 and from 16:00 to 20:00. Since June 2026, 5% VAT applies to all Parkin parking services, and meters no longer take cash. You can pay with a nol card or in an app.
Helpful tipBuy the ticket for the zone code on the sign where you parked. Parkin says the ticket must match the type of parking and the zone code, otherwise it does not cover the car.
Alex Shvarov, Automotive expert with over 15 years of experience
Dubai Parking Zones, Codes and Tariffs
Parkin’s tariff tables list standard zones A to D and premium versions with a P (AP, BP, CP and DP). The prices below are per hour in AED, taken from Parkin’s parking information page in October 2026, which quotes them with 5% VAT.
| Zone | Type | Off-peak | Peak |
|---|---|---|---|
| A | Standard, roadside | 4.20 | 4.20 |
| B | Standard, plots | 3.15 | 4.20 |
| C | Standard, roadside | 2.10 | 4.20 |
| D | Standard, plots | 2.10 | 4.20 |
| AP | Premium, roadside | 4.20 | 6.30 |
| BP | Premium, plots | 3.15 | 6.30 |
| CP | Premium, roadside | 2.10 | 6.30 |
| DP | Premium, plots | 2.10 | 6.30 |
Roadside bays in zones A and C allow up to 4 hours at a time. Plot parking in zones B and D has a 14-hour price: AED 31.50 in B and AED 21 in D. Peak hours are 08:00 to 10:00 and 16:00 to 20:00, and only the premium zones and zones B, C and D change price at peak times.
| Zone | Area | Price per hour | Paid hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| GP | Burj Khalifa, Dubai Health Care City | 4.20 off-peak, 6.30 peak | Mon–Sat, 08:00–22:00 |
| GP | Business Bay | 4.20 off-peak, 6.30 peak | Every day, 08:00–23:59 |
| F | Dubai Media City, Internet City, Knowledge Park | 4.20 | Mon–Sat, 08:00–22:00 |
| E and I | Jumeirah Lakes Towers | 10.50 | Mon–Sat, 08:00–22:00 |
| J, K, L | Jumeirah Lakes Towers | 4.20 off-peak, 6.30 peak | Mon–Sat, 08:00–22:00 |
| G | Dubai Hills | 4.20 | Mon–Sat, 08:00–22:00 |
| H | Damac Hills | 4.20 | Mon–Sat, 08:00–22:00 |
Helpful tipIn premium zones the same bay costs AED 2.10 to 4.20 an hour outside the peak windows and AED 6.30 inside them. Arrive after 10:00 or leave before 16:00 if your plans are flexible.
Alex Shvarov, Automotive expert with over 15 years of experience
How to Pay for Parking in Dubai
Parkin app
The Parkin app (also on Google Play) opens a map that finds your zone. Tap Pay Here, check the zone, plate number and duration, and pay with a Parkin wallet, Apple Pay, Google Pay, a card or SMS.
You can extend a session or let it renew automatically, and you do not need an account: guest mode accepts Apple Pay, Google Pay, a card or SMS. The same payment is available on Parkin’s website.
SMS and WhatsApp
SMS to 7275: send the plate number, the zone code and the hours, for example A00000 123A 2 for two hours. Each SMS costs 30 fils. You get a reminder 10 minutes before the ticket ends, and the letter Y sent to 7275 extends it. Details are on Parkin’s SMS page.
WhatsApp: message the Mahboub chatbot on +971 58 800 9090 with the same three items, for example A00000 123A 2. The amount is taken from your mParking account, a reminder comes 15 minutes before the ticket ends, and Y extends it. Parkin lists no extra fee for WhatsApp or the app.
Nol card, DubaiNow and RTA app
Pay and Display machines stand in zones A, B, C, D, F, G and H. Since June 2026 they take a nol card, not cash. The machine issues an electronic ticket linked to your plate, so there is nothing to put on the dashboard.
You can also pay parking in the DubaiNow app and the RTA Dubai app.
Helpful tipSave the Mahboub number and install the Parkin app before your trip, not after you park. Look for a reminder on your phone 10 minutes before the ticket ends.
Alex Shvarov, Automotive expert with over 15 years of experience
Where to Park for Free
Shopping malls
At Dubai Mall the first 4 hours are free from Monday to Thursday and the first 6 hours are free from Friday to Sunday, according to the mall’s parking terms. The free hours apply at Zabeel and Fountain Views parking, while Grand, Cinema and Fashion parking are charged. After the free hours the fee steps up: a stay of 4 to 5 hours costs AED 20 from Monday to Thursday, and 24 hours costs AED 1,200. If you leave and come back within 90 minutes, the free hours are lost. Visitors need an active Salik tag on the car, because the mall takes the fee from the Salik account.
At Mall of the Emirates, which also runs on Parkin, the first 4 hours are free from Monday to Friday. A stay of 4 to 5 hours costs AED 20, and the price rises to AED 180 for 8 hours or more. Staying through the night (04:00 to 06:00) costs AED 240.
Metro stations
Some Dubai Metro stations give free parking to people who ride the metro with a nol card. Stations and conditions change, so check them with the RTA before you rely on a metro car park.
Helpful tipCheck the time stamped on your mall ticket before you walk back to the car. Leaving the free window by a few minutes is the most common way visitors end up paying.
Alex Shvarov, Automotive expert with over 15 years of experience
Parking a Rental Car in Dubai
Who pays for parking and fines
You pay for each parking session yourself. A parking fine is recorded against the car’s plate, so it reaches the owner of the car first. At Brook Drive the fine is forwarded to you and you pay it after the rental. There is no deposit. Salik and Darb tolls are billed to you separately after the rental ends. Dubai Mall takes its parking fee through the car’s Salik account, so ask your manager how that is handled before you plan a long mall visit. The Brook Drive team is on +971 58 642 7299.
Large cars in tight bays
Older garages were built for narrower cars. A wide SUV or pickup should sit in the middle of the bay, because going over the lines is a fine in a multi-storey car park.
| Model | Price per day, 1–2 days | Parking context | Booking |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cadillac Escalade Sport Platinum | AED 1190 | Needs extra care in older garages built for narrower cars | Cadillac Escalade |
| Nissan Patrol LE Platinum | AED 1070 | Popular but bulky for standard roadside bays | Nissan Patrol |
| Dodge RAM TRX | AED 1 430 | Very wide pickup, so avoid tight commercial zones | Dodge RAM |
Compact cars for busy streets
In busy commercial streets a small car saves time when you hunt for a gap. Economy cars and compact coupes are the easiest to place.
| Model | Price per day, 1–2 days | Parking benefit | Booking |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fiat Abarth 595 | AED 470 | Fits tight spots in Deira with room to spare | Fiat Abarth |
| Mini Cooper S Convertible | AED 590 | Easy to manoeuvre in busy streets | Mini Cooper |
| BMW 230i Coupe | AED 720 | Compact coupe that is easy to place in city bays | BMW 2 Series |
Parking Fines and How to Pay Them
Common parking fines
The amounts below come from Parkin’s fine table, checked in October 2026.
- AED 150: parking without paying, or without a ticket shown when the fine is issued
- AED 100: staying beyond the maximum time, or using a space after the ticket has expired
- AED 240: parking on a pavement or in a no-parking area, or disrupting the use of spaces; in multi-storey car parks also double parking, going over the lines and blocking an entrance or exit
- AED 600: exceeding the maximum parking time or the vehicle height in a multi-storey car park
- AED 1,200: a bay for People of Determination without a permit (federal law adds 6 black points), a space reserved for others, a car with no plate, or evading payment in a car park
Is there a grace period?
Not after your ticket ends. The RTA scrapped the 10-minute grace period after expiry, and its spokesman said inspectors can fine a car even one minute after the paid time runs out, according to Gulf News. Do not rely on a buffer at the start either: pay as soon as you park.
VerdictA parking ticket costs a few dirhams and a fine costs AED 100 to 200, so pay on arrival and extend the session before it ends, by SMS or in the app.
Alex Shvarov, Automotive expert with over 15 years of experience
Check, pay and dispute online
Search a fine by plate number or fine number on Parkin’s fines service, in the Parkin app or on the RTA’s Pay Public Parking Fines page, and pay by card. Smart kiosks across the city also take payment.
If a fine looks wrong, dispute it free of charge on Parkin’s website or in its app. Parkin says it reviews a dispute within about two weeks (14 days on its fines page, 15 in its FAQ). If you had already paid, ask for a refund through the RTA call centre or at WhatsApp +971 58 642 7299.
Automotive expert with over 15 years of experience in the premium and sports car industry. I specialize in luxury vehicle selection, performance analysis, and creating exceptional driving experiences for discerning clients.
Parking in Dubai: FAQ
How do I find the parking zone of a specific spot?
The zone code is written on the parking signboard, together with the tariff. The Parkin app also shows your zone on a map when location services are on.
When is parking free in Dubai?
On Sundays, on public holidays and every night from 22:00 to 08:00. Multi-storey car parks, Business Bay and the 24-hour zones (M, MP, N, V and W) are exceptions and charge outside those times.
When do you have to pay for parking in Dubai?
Monday to Saturday from 08:00 to 22:00. In Ramadan the paid hours are 08:00 to 18:00 and 20:00 to 22:00. Multi-storey car parks are paid 24 hours a day.
How long can you leave a car parked in one spot?
Parkin’s tables list up to 4 hours for roadside bays in zones A and C and a 14-hour price for plot parking in zones B and D. Other zones and car parks have their own limits, shown on the sign.
Do I need an account to pay for parking?
No. Parkin has a guest mode that accepts Apple Pay, Google Pay, a card or SMS, so you can pay without registering.
What should I do if I get a parking fine?
Look it up by plate number on Parkin’s fines service. If it is correct, pay it. If it is wrong, dispute it online with proof such as the parking SMS or receipt. On a Brook Drive rental the fine is forwarded to you and you pay it after the rental.
Is there a parking grace period after my ticket expires?
No. Inspectors can fine a car as soon as the paid time ends, so extend the ticket before it runs out.
