Mawaqif, meaning “parking” in Arabic, is the innovative parking management system introduced by the Integrated Transport Centre (ITC) Abu Dhabi to regulate and organise public parking across the UAE’s capital. Designed to reduce congestion and ensure smoother traffic flow, Mawaqif has become an integral part of daily life for residents.
Here we will explain to you all the details of the Mawaqif Abu Dhabi parking system, fees, Mawaqif fines and registration processes.
About Mawaqif
Mawaqif is Abu Dhabi’s paid parking system. it was launched in October 2009 by the Department of Transport (DoT) to manage parking in the capital. This system was first implemented around Bani Yas Street, Hamdan Street, Khalifa Street and Eastern Ring Road – some of the highly trafficked commercial areas of the emirate at the time.
In 2013, DoT implemented the Mawaqif parking system in other areas of Abu Dhabi, including Delma Street from the south, Hazza bin Zayed Street from the north, Fourth Street (Muroor Road) from the west and Sheikh Zayed Street from the east. As of now, the paid parking system has expanded to many areas of the city and the implementation process is still underway for other localities.
About M-Mawaqif: SMS Parking in Abu Dhabi
Integrated Transport Centres (ITC) initiated M-Mawaqif services to further facilitate motorists in Abu Dhabi. This service was introduced for paying parking fees on the go using mobile phones.
With the sms parking in Abu Dhabi, residents can conveniently pay their parking charges. Besides, the updated Mawaqif parking system also allows easy parking for vehicles outside the Emirate.
CLASSIFICATION OF MAWAQIF PARKING AND FEES
Mawaqif parking fees are segmented into types: Premium and Standard. The parking can be identified by different kerbstone colours. Premium parking is indicated by blue and white kerbstone: whereas, standard parking with blue and black.
STANDARD PARKING
This parking allows motorists to park vehicles for 24 hours. The fees include AED 2 per hour and AED 15 for the entire day. Also, this parking is free of charge on Sundays and public holidays.
PREMIUM PARKING
This is valid for four hours only. It can be scheduled for the said hours from 8:00 AM to 12:00 AM and costs AED 3 per hour.
TYPES OF PARKING PERMITS IN ABU DHABI
Mawaqif Abu Dhabi provides different parking permits. One can choose a parking permit that best suits their preferences. Here are their details.
RESIDENTS’ PERMIT
The permit allows the residents to park their vehicles in the available parking space within their residential areas in Al Ain and Abu Dhabi. However, they must not park incorrectly or assume the parking is reserved. Also, the permit can be availed by tenants and owners of residential property.
It can also be availed by their first-degree relatives (father, mother, wife, children, brothers and sisters) to park their vehicles in the permit holder’s residential area, marked in turquoise and black colours.
REGULATIONS AND LEGISLATIONS
- The permit can not be obtained if the user has unpaid Mawaqif fines on the relevant vehicle.
- Users must agree to all the terms and conditions of using the permit.
- If another permit is in progress for the vehicle, the user will be not allowed to apply for another permit.
- Permit fees can be paid through the user’s credit card. The approved permit will be available for printing a copy once the requested information has been received and verified through the system.
REQUIRED DOCUMENTS
- A copy of the Tawtheeq rent contract
- Copy of utility bills
- If the permit is issued using relatives’ contracts and documents, proof of first or second-degree kinship must be submitted.
- If the rent contract is under a company name, an approval letter from the company must be submitted.
SERVICE FEES
For non-UAE nationality holders, one-year Mawaqif residence parking permit costs:
- First permit: AED 800
- Second permit: AED 1200
Meanwhile, the 6-month permit has charges:
- First permit: AED 400
- Second permit: AED 600
For UAE nationals, the service fees are:
- 10 free permits for villas
- 4 free permits for apartments
EDIT PERMIT DETAILS
This service allows the user to modify their registered vehicle or residence information when either of them is changed.
For the active vehicle permit, one of the following changes can be made:
- Vehicle registered in the permit.
- The residence location in the Tawtheeq rent contract.
- The information will be updated after the request is verified.
- The service is free of charge.
How to Renew Residents’ Parking Permits in Abu Dhabi?
You can renew residents’ parking permits to use a standard parking space in your respective area by applying to any of the Mawaqif customer care services centres.
Required Documents to Renew Residents’ Parking Permits
The documents required along with the application are:
- Car registration card
- House ownership proof or tenancy contract (Tawtheeq)
- Passport copy (in case of expatriate)
- Water and electricity bills
DEFINING THE VILLAS VISITORS’ PHONE NUMBERS
This service allows villa residents with valid permits to register up to nine phone numbers for their visitors. The permit owner has the flexibility to modify these numbers as needed. However, to add visitor phone numbers, the permit must be currently valid.
Visitors with valid permits are permitted to park in designated parking spaces for villa visitors. The parking fees apply from 2:00 AM to 8:00 AM and are determined as follows:
- For Emirati citizens holding the permit, there are no charges for adding visitors to the permit.
- For non-Emirati permit holders, a fee of two dirhams per hour will be applied, with a maximum charge of six hours.
Additionally, if the visitors park their cars beyond the allotted time, they must obtain a visitor villa parking permit in Abu Dhabi.
LIMITED-TERM PERMITS
The permit allows users to avail of the main public parking spaces in all Mawaqif sectors. It has different durations of 1, 3, 6 and 12 months.
REGULATIONS AND LEGISLATIONS
- This service is exempted from private vehicle parks, floor parking, villa areas and premium vehicle parks.
- Two permits can be obtained for the same vehicle if the start and end dates of both permits do not coincide.
- Once the relevant information is processed and verified by the system, the applicant will be notified through sms and an e-mail.
- The approved permit will be available for a copy print.
FEES
The fee structure for this parking permit is as follows:
- 1 month: AED 319
- 3 months: AED 1174
- 6 months: AED 2348
- 12 months: AED 4695
PAYMENT MODES FOR ABU DHABI PARKING
Integrated Transport Centre (ITC) has introduced different methods to facilitate motorists in paying their Mawaqif car parking fees. Read below to know about how to pay for parking in Abu Dhabi.
Via Cash
Mawaqif Pay & Display machines in turquoise colour bearing the Mawaqif logo are installed near parking areas in Abu Dhabi. You can pay for car parking in cash via these machines. Also, you can head to Mawaqif customer service centres to top-up your Mawaqif account by cash.
Via Mawaqif Rechargeable Cards
Motorists can also pay parking fees using Mawaqif rechargeable cards, available at the Customer Happiness Centre. The cards will be linked to the user’s e-wallet. They can also be used to pay for multi-storey car parking in Abu Dhabi. If you have a registered Mawaqif account, your parking fee will be automatically deducted once you top up with a rechargeable card. The initial balance will be AED 50.
HOW TO ACTIVATE THE MAWAQIF RECHARGEABLE CARD?
- Visit ITC’s official webiste and log into Muawaqif account.
- Click on ‘Link Rechargeable Card’.
- Enter the card details.
- A confirmation SMS will be sent to the applicant along with the current balance on the card.
Apart from activating the card via ITC’s website, you can also do it through SMS. To do so, the following SMS format is to be sent to 3009: LINK<SPACE>CARD NO<SPACE>CVC
Also, the rechargeable card can be linked to the customer’s e-wallet account. It can then be used in the parking fees payment machines. To link it, follow these steps:
- Select the “Add new wallet card” service.
- Enter the card number, expiry date and CVC.
- Specify the required E-wallet and select the card name.
- Card validity will be verified by the system and balance will be added to the E-wallet.
- The user can then use the card balance to pay the parking fees.
Also, the following cards can be activated easily:
- Inactivated cards
- Previously activated cards
- Unexpired cards having a balance of less than AED 2
Lost or damaged cards can be deactivated via the wallet card management system screen.
Via SMS Parking
Motorists with an official Mawaqif account can pay their car parking fee via SMS through M-Mawaqif using their Du or Etisalat registered mobile numbers. Besides, vehicles registered in different emirates of the UAE can also use the M-Mawaqif method to pay the parking fee.
The Department of Transport (DoT) has enabled SMS parking in Abu Dhabi. This payment mode facilitates all UAE-registered vehicle owners to pay parking fees anywhere and anytime, by simply sending an SMS. Registration with Mawaqif is not required when paying via SMS.
To pay the Mawaqif fee via SMS, open the message creation option on your mobile phone and type SMS in the following format:
City & Plate Code <space> Plate Number <space> Parking Type <space> Duration
Parking type refers to Standard or Premium with respective code ‘S‘ or ‘P‘. As per the given format, your Mawaqif parking SMS should be ‘AUH20 98765 P 1’.
Send the SMS to 3009 and you will receive a confirmation message. Also, a message alert is sent 10 minutes prior to the parking permit expiry. If you need to extend the duration for another hour, you can type ‘E‘ and send to 3009.
*Standard SMS charges apply on texts to 3009.
Parking Payment in Abu Dhabi via DARBI Website or DARBI Mobile App
Motorists with Abu Dhabi private plate numbers can pay parking fees via DARBI Website or DARBI Mobile App.
For registered Mawaqif account holders
You can simply log on to the DARBI website or mobile application, select ‘Parking’ from the main menu, choose Mawaqif ‘Pay for Parking’ option and select ‘Registered User’.
For unregistered users
If you don’t have a Mawaqif account, you can select ‘Not Registered User’ and follow these steps:
- Enter emirate name
- Vehicle type as per city code
- Plate number
- Phone number
- Select Standard or Premium Parking
- Enter the duration
- Enter the amount you have to pay
- Click ‘Pay’
Note: Unregistered users can also sign up for a Mawaqif account through DARBI
Now you know how to pay for parking in Abu Dhabi, let’s take a look at the parking fines and free parking in Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi Parking Fine Payment via TAMM
You can also pay Abu Dhabi parking fines online via TAMM’s official website. Your UAE Pass will serve as the login credential.
If you pay the parking fine within 30 days of the issuance date, you will be eligible to avail 25% discount on the incurred amount. The only documents required for the payment of the Mawaqif violation fee are your car registration card and cash deposit receipt. You can also make online traffic fine payments in the capital city at your convenience.
Mawaqif Parking Violations and Fines in Abu Dhabi
Motorists violating Mawaqif laws have to pay a penalty between AED 100 to AED 1,000, depending on the nature of the parking law violation. However, a 10-minute grace time is available when you park your car against the rule. After this duration, you are liable to pay the fine. These Abu Dhabi parking fines can be paid at any Mawaqif happiness centre.
Given here some of the Abu Dhabi parking fines for the violation you should know to avoid any inconvenience:
- Parking is prohibited in residential areas: AED 200
- Parking your car in taxi and bus parking spaces: AED 500
- Occupying two parking spaces: AED 200
Using one parking ticket in the parking space of another area: AED 100
Despite having your own car, if you want to save yourself from violation of rules and fines, then you may choose to commute using any of the public transport in Abu Dhabi. But when you drive and park in the capital, make sure you follow the car driving rules in the UAE to avoid hefty fines and inconvenience.
Contact Details of Parking Management Company in Abu Dhabi
Integrated Transport Centre (ITC) manages Abu Dhabi parking. The ITC office operates from 7:00 am to 3:00 pm from Sunday to Thursday. Meanwhile, ITC online services are available 24/7.
Office Address::Rabdan Area, Building 26, Al Khor Street, Abu Dhabi
Email: customer.care@itc.gov.ae
Phone number: 800-850
Mawaqif Customer Service Centres
You can head to any of the following Mawaqif Customer Service centres to buy rechargeable Mawaqif cards:
- Hamdan bin Mohammed Street
- Sultan bin Zayed the First Street
- Abu Dhabi Main Bus Station
- Abu Dhabi Municipality Head office and its branches (Marina Mall and Al Bateen Mall)
- Department of Urban Planning and Municipalities in the Al Maqtaa area
Mawaqif Customer Care centres in Abu Dhabi as listed on the DARBI portal are operational from Sunday to Thursday from 7:00 am to 3:00 pm. You can reach out to the following:
- ITC – Main Office
- Mawaqif Car pound – Al Manhal
- Traffic and Patrol Department Abu Dhabi
Our guide on parking in Abu Dhabi comes to an end here. Due to proper parking management and associated laws, parking in the UAE’s capital is hassle-free. If you wish to buy another car take a look at used cars for sale in Abu Dhabi to explore the options that may suit your needs and budget.
Stay tuned to dubizzle’s autos blog for more information on parking in other emirates, public transport and more.
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