Finding a parking spot in a bustling city like Dubai can be challenging sometimes. Fortunately, the Road and Transport Authority (RTA) has introduced several initiatives to ease this experience. Speaking of payment modes for public parking, one can opt for different methods. These include coins, mParking, Nol cards and more.
Let’s go through the different ways to pay for parking in Dubai that cater to various preferences. These payment options ensure that parking in the city is hassle-free and accessible to all.
Different Modes of Payment For Public Parking in Dubai
Paying for car parking in Dubai is easy and convenient, thanks to the various options available. Whether you prefer old-school coins, cards or the latest mobile apps, there’s something for everyone.
That said, here’s all you need to know about public parking fee payment in Dubai.
NOL CARD
Nol cards cater to multiple transportation needs in Dubai. They serve as a payment mode for different transportation modes and parking. Besides, when parking in areas equipped with Nol card-enabled metres, insert the Nol card into the designated slot on the parking metre and follow the prompts to select the parking duration. After that, the parking fee will be deducted from your card balance and you will obtain a parking ticket.
SEASONAL PARKING CARDS
RTA seasonal parking cards are also among the popular ways to pay parking fees in Dubai by offering a pre-paid solution. Once you’ve purchased a seasonal parking card, simply display it on your car’s dashboard when parking in designated areas.
The card is payment proof that you don’t have to use traditional payment methods like coins each time you park. This approach offers convenient parking without worrying about daily payments or running out of credit. In addition, you can activate your seasonal parking card through the RTA Dubai app which doesn’t need to be physically displayed on the dashboard.
mParking (SMS Parking)
Another of the most-used ways to pay for parking in Dubai is via SMS called ‘Park and Pay’. This e-service by RTA allows Du or Etisalat sim users to pay for parking by sending an SMS to 7275 (PARK). You will receive a confirmation message within five minutes. In case you don’t, contact RTA customer service at 800-9090.
Mobile parking for non-Dubai vehicles allows extending parking duration online and sends an alert 10 minutes before expiration. Meanwhile, mParking is available for vehicles with registered number plates in UAE, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman and Saudi Arabia. However, the telecom operator will charge an additional service fee of 30 fils on top of the parking fees.
RTA has taken digitalisation a step further with Whatsapp as a parking payment mode in Dubai. To use this service, make sure that your mParking account has sufficient balance as the payment will be deducted online.
You can send a WhatsApp message to RTA’s chatbot at +971 58 8009090. The message must follow this format: [Plate Number] Space [Zone Number] Space [Duration]. For instance, to park your car with plate number A00000 in parking zone 000A for two hours, send this message on WhatsApp: A00000 000A 2.
After sending the message, you will receive a confirmation of your parking ticket which will be directly linked to your car’s number plate.
DubaiNow App
If you are looking to pay for public parking online, the DubaiNow App is another great option. The parking services are available under the ‘Driving’ service category. For parking payment, enter your vehicle details and parking code and the transaction will be carried out via a debit or a credit card.
Coins
While paying for public parking in Dubai with coins is less common nowadays, it’s still an option available to motorists. To use this method, you’ll need 1 Dirham or 50 Fils coins, a parking zone number and enough coins to cover the desired parking duration.
After that, find an RTA parking machine within the zone, select the duration and insert the coins. You can then collect the printed ticket and display it on the dashboard for easy visibility.
RTA Dubai App
One of the RTA mobile apps, that is, RTA Dubai offers a convenient way for public parking fee payment in Dubai. With just a few taps on your smartphone, you can manage parking sessions, extend parking time remotely and even find a parking spot online in Dubai. This app streamlines the parking process, ensuring a hassle-free experience for all. It’s an easy way of how to pay for parking in Dubai online.
Digital Wallet Apps
Digital Wallet apps are a convenient way to pay for public and multi-storey car parking in Dubai. Many payment machines in Dubai accept parking fees via smartphones enabled with NFC (Near Field Communication) technology. Just open the phone’s digital wallet and tap it against the payment machine to complete the transaction.
Credit or Debit Cards
Motorists can also use bank cards for payment of public parking fees in Dubai. In addition, when using a parking payment machine in Dubai, you’ll need to enter these details, regardless of the payment method:
- Emirate of vehicle registration
- Vehicle plate code
- Vehicle plate number
Apart from the above-mentioned options, motorists can also use Apple Pay and Galaxy Pay to pay for public parking in Dubai. Also, parking has become quite easy in the city, thanks to RTA’s smart directional signs.
FAQs
How to pay for parking in Dubai?
You can pay for Dubai parking via multiple channels such as WhatsApp, Nol Card or seasonal parking cards.
How do I pay for parking in Dubai through WhatsApp?
To pay for parking in Dubai, send a WhatsApp message at 00971-58-800-9090 in this format: [Plate Number] Space [Zone Number] Space [Duration].
Is parking in Dubai easy?
Parking in Dubai can vary in ease depending on the location and time of day. However, with a range of payment options and ample parking facilities, it’s quite manageable.
How to Pay for Parking in Dubai by SMS?
You can use mParking which is an SMS service to pay for Dubai parking.
All in all, these were some of the convenient ways to pay for parking in Dubai. They offer a hassle-free payment method for visitors and local commuters alike. Also, pay the parking fee duly to avoid Dubai traffic fines and penalties. Also, here are the areas where you can find free parking in Dubai.
If you are in search of a new ride, go through these used cars to buy in Dubai that offer a myriad of budget-friendly options.
For more information on car parking and payment in Dubai, keep reading dubizzle’s cars blog.
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