Dubai is one of the best places in the world to drive a car. Those who visit the United Arab Emirates enjoy renting cars and exploring the rich set of cultural, architectural, and entertainment attractions Dubai has to offer. Thankfully, the emirate has all the infrastructure a driver needs: the roads are a sheer pleasure to drive, and there are hundreds of gas stations and roadside cafes available for the drivers. The situation with parking is also great, as there are numerous parking areas of different kinds available everywhere in Dubai. However, like in any other country, there are some rules the drivers have to follow when parking their vehicles in the United Arab Emirates. All the zones, categories, and regulations mentioned in this article are relevant in 2023.
First of all, it is important to understand the zoning of parking areas in the emirate. There are eleven types of zones that are either available in different parts of the emirate or have different usage purposes. Even though the general principle is the same everywhere, there are many subtle differences between these zones the drivers should know about. It is also important to keep in mind that the drivers can discover the zone of a specific parking lot by looking at the information sign installed there.
The first zone on the list comprises parking areas located next to the roads of Dubai’s streets that have the most traffic. You will find the main details regarding the parking areas that belong to Zone A in the table below.
| Zone | A |
| Open time | 8 am |
| Closing time | 10 pm |
| Price for 30 minutes | 2 AED |
| Price for 1 hour | 4 AED |
| Price 2 hours | 8 AED |
| Price for 3 hours | 12 AED |
| Price for 4 hours | 16 AED |
| Price for 5 hours | Not allowed |
| Price for 24 hours | Not allowed |
Zone B comprises parking areas in the same popular districts of Dubai, although it covers less demanded parking lots. The details regarding this zone can be found in the table below.
| Zone | B |
| Open time | 8 am |
| Closing time | 10 pm |
| Price for 30 minutes | 3 AED |
| Price for 1 hour | 3 AED |
| Price 2 hours | 6 AED |
| Price for 3 hours | 9 AED |
| Price for 4 hours | 12 AED |
| Price for 5 hours | 15 AED |
| Price for 24 hours | 20 AED |
Parking areas in some residential districts of Dubai and some other areas that are not used for commercial purposes are allocated to Zone C. The prices here are slightly lower than in the previous zones, and you will find other details in the table below.
| Zone | C |
| Open time | 8 am |
| Closing time | 10 pm |
| Price for 30 minutes | 2 AED |
| Price for 1 hour | 2 AED |
| Price 2 hours | 5 AED |
| Price for 3 hours | 8 AED |
| Price for 4 hours | 11 AED |
| Price for 5 hours | Not allowed |
| Price for 24 hours | Not allowed |
Zone D features the cheapest parking areas covered so far. They are also located in residential parts of Dubai and some other areas that are not used for commercial purposes. Details regarding the operating time and prices of Zone D are represented in the table below.
| Zone | D |
| Open time | 8 am |
| Closing time | 10 pm |
| Price for 30 minutes | 2 AED |
| Price for 1 hour | 2 AED |
| Price 2 hours | 4 AED |
| Price for 3 hours | 5 AED |
| Price for 4 hours | 7 AED |
| Price for 24 hours | 10 AED |
Zone E is rather unique, as it includes both roadside parking lots and underground parking areas. The schedule is the same for these two types of parking spaces, but underground ones can be used for free. The details regarding the prices for open-air lots and the schedule of these areas is represented in the table below.
| Zone | E |
| Open time | 8 am |
| Closing time | 11 pm |
| Price for 30 minutes | 4 AED |
| Price for 1 hour | 4 AED |
| Price 2 hours | 8 AED |
| Price for 3 hours | 12 AED |
| Price for 4 hours | 16 AED |
| Price for 5 hours | Not allowed |
| Price for 24 hours | Not allowed |
Zone F features parking areas in new and innovative districts of Dubai. The schedule of their operation is shorter than the one of most other zones, so the drivers should keep it in mind when planning their trips. The table below contains all the specifics regarding prices and schedule of Zone F parking areas.
| Zone | F |
| Open time | 8 am |
| Closing time | 6 pm |
| Price for 30 minutes | 2 AED |
| Price for 1 hour | 2 AED |
| Price 2 hours | 5 AED |
| Price for 3 hours | 8 AED |
| Price for 4 hours | 11 AED |
| Price for 5 hours | Not allowed |
| Price for 24 hours | Not allowed |
Zone G comprises parking areas in parts of Dubai that are especially popular among tourists. The drivers should take into account that Zone G parking areas are not operating on Sundays, and all the other details can be found in the table below.
| Zone | G |
| Open time | 8 am |
| Closing time | 10 pm |
| Price for 30 minutes | 4 AED |
| Price for 1 hour | 4 AED |
| Price 2 hours | 8 AED |
| Price for 3 hours | 12 AED |
| Price for 4 hours | 16 AED |
| Price for 5 hours | Not allowed |
| Price for 24 hours | Not allowed |
Zone H also includes parking lots in the innovative parts of Dubai. These areas are optimized for leaving vehicles for short periods of time, and they also are not available on Sundays. The information regarding the operating period and prices for using these parking areas can be found in the table below.
| Zone | H |
| Open time | 8 am |
| Closing time | 10 pm |
| Price for 30 minutes | 2 AED |
| Price for 1 hour | 4 AED |
| Price 2 hours | 8 AED |
| Price for 3 hours | 12 AED |
| Price for 4 hours | 16 AED |
| Price for 5 hours | Not allowed |
| Price for 24 hours | Not allowed |
Zone I mostly comprises parking areas around Jumeirah Lake Tower. These parking lots are very popular among drivers, and they don’t have so much space. Because of that, the prices are noticeably higher than with most other zones on this list, and the maximum time limit is lower. Specifics about Zone I parking areas can be found in the table below.
| Zone | I |
| Open time | 8 am |
| Closing time | 10 pm |
| Price for 30 minutes | 10 AED |
| Price for 1 hour | 10 AED |
| Price 2 hours | 20 AED |
| Price for 3 hours | 30 AED |
| Price for 4 hours | Not allowed |
| Price for 5 hours | Not allowed |
| Price for 24 hours | Not allowed |
Zone J parking areas are located in the same districts of Dubai that have Zone I parking lots. These areas, however, are significantly less demanded, so the prices are lower, although the maximum time limit is the same. It is important to keep in mind that Zone J parking areas are not available on Sundays, while the other details are represented in the table below.
| Zone | J |
| Open time | 8 am |
| Closing time | 10 pm |
| Price for 30 minutes | 2 AED |
| Price for 1 hour | 4 AED |
| Price 2 hours | 8 AED |
| Price for 3 hours | 12 AED |
| Price for 4 hours | Not allowed |
| Price for 5 hours | Not allowed |
| Price for 24 hours | Not allowed |
Zone K parking areas are also located around Jumeirah Lake Tower. The drivers who are planning to leave their vehicles for longer than three hours should use these parking lots, as they can be used for up to 24 hours. Similarly, these parking areas are not available on Sundays, while the other details are included in the table below.
| Zone | K |
| Open time | 8 am |
| Closing time | 10 pm |
| Price for 30 minutes | 2 AED |
| Price for 1 hour | 4 AED |
| Price 2 hours | 8 AED |
| Price for 3 hours | 12 AED |
| Price for 4 hours | 16 AED |
| Price for 5 hours | 20 AED |
| Price for 6 hours | 24 AED |
| Price for 7 hours | 28 AED |
| Price for 24 hours | 32 AED |
Every single parking area in Dubai is assigned to a zone and to a category. The drivers will need to know the category of the parking lot they are using in order to properly pay for it. The good news is that there are only two categories: Category One and Category Two. The drivers will find the information regarding the lot’s category on the information sign placed there. Another option is to remember the districts of Dubai that are included in Category One, as all the other areas of the city are assigned to the other category. These districts and attractions in them include:
The drivers will be pleased to discover there are many methods they can use in order to pay for parking. Some of them are more suitable for residents and long-term tourists, while the others are perfect for those who simply rent a car in Dubai for a short vacation. In any case, it is worth discovering the details regarding each payment method in order to select the best option.
One of the quickest ways to make the payment is by downloading the Dubai Drive app. It is available both in the Google Play Market and in the App Store, so users of any operating system will be able to download it for free. After installing the app, it is necessary to share the details of your vehicle in it. The app is well thought-out and contains convenient instructions on how to use it when paying for parking in Dubai.
It is also possible to pay the tariffs in a more old-fashioned way. Every single parking area has a special machine that accepts AED for payments. It is the safest option for drivers who prefer not to rely on modern technology, and it is extremely convenient for those who visit Dubai for a short period of time and don’t have to pay for parking every day.
There are three types of cards and vouchers the drivers of Dubai may obtain to pay their parking tariffs. They are Seasonal Cards, NOL Cards, and Prepaid Cards. Prepaid cards are exactly what it sounds like: it is possible to purchase a voucher with a fixed value that may range from 30 AED to 100 AED. The voucher can be inserted to a machine described in the previous section, and the tariff will be paid from its balance. This is perhaps the best option to use for tourists who come to Dubai for several weeks and are planning to use their vehicle regularly. Seasonal Cards should also be inserted to the machines at parking areas in Dubai, but they have two crucial differences from prepaid vouchers. First of all, Seasonal Cards can only be used in Zone A and Zone B parking lots. Secondly, there is no value assigned to a Seasonal Card as it provides unlimited parking for periods from three months to a year. Lastly, there are NOL cards which are perfect for residents of Dubai and long-term visitors of the emirate. These cards don’t have any face value, but their balance can be topped up. They are used in a similar fashion to all the other cards: it is necessary to insert your NOL card to the machine in order to pay the tariff. The main benefit is that the drivers won’t have to make cash payments all the time: it will be enough to insert money once when topping up the balance. It makes the interaction quicker and a lot more convenient.
Another option available to drivers of Dubai is to send an SMS message to 7275. Of course, it is necessary to have a local SIM-card in order to use this payment method, as the funds are deducted from its balance. The message should be formatted in the following way:
It is important to keep in mind that there should be spaces between these three pieces of information. Thankfully, the service sends an automatic response that will help the driver understand whether everything was filled out correctly. The method is rather situational, so it is not as popular among drivers of Dubai. Alternatively, it is possible to send the same message to the same number on WhatsApp. This will also result in funds being deducted from the SIM-card balance, so only the drivers with local numbers will be able to use it.
The machines that are available in all parking areas of Dubai are capable of receiving payments from some credit or debit bank cards. The main criteria is that the card should have an RFID chip installed on it, as the machine uses it to perform the transaction.
Lastly, the same machines accept NFC payments. The drivers can use their smartphones to pay for parking, in case they have linked their credit or debit card to the NFC system of their device. The feature is available both on Android and iOS, but the device should be equipped with the corresponding chip to support it.
Of course, breaking the parking rules in Dubai will result in the driver getting fined. Even though this information won’t be useful for most drivers, it is still important to keep in mind the potential penalties for various violations. The table below features the most common fines and the sums the drivers have to pay in every scenario. It is important to keep in mind that the fines are not fixed and may vary depending on damage caused.
| Violation | Fine |
| Not paying the parking tariff | 150 AED |
| Leaving the vehicle for longer than the parking limit | 100 AED |
| Wrong parking or blocking the parking lot | 200 AED |
| Leaving a vehicle outside a parking area | 200 AED |
| Leaving a vehicle without a license plate | 1,000 AED |
| Using reserved parking spaces without permission | 1,000 AED |
| Damaging the parking area | 1,000 AED |
| Covering the car with an umbrella | 1,000 AED |
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