Dubai Parking Guide: SMS Codes, Zones, and Salik Tolls

You just parked on a Dubai street for the first time. The parking meter sign says "Zone 335A." Your phone is in your hand. Now what?

The short answer: send an SMS to 7275 with your plate number, zone code, and hours — like A12345 335A 2. That's the Dubai parking SMS format, and it works on both Etisalat and du. But if you get one digit wrong, you're looking at an AED 150 fine instead of an AED 2 parking fee.

This guide covers the exact SMS format, zone colours and pricing, free parking hours, how Salik toll gates work (including the dynamic pricing that launched in January 2026), and how to register for Abu Dhabi's Darb system. After reading it, you'll handle parking, tolls, and registration without second-guessing yourself.

How Do You Pay for Parking in Dubai by SMS?

Send an SMS to 7275 (spells "PARK") with your plate number, the zone code, and the number of hours. That's it. The fee gets deducted from your mobile balance (Etisalat or du), and you'll receive a confirmation within 15 seconds.

Here's the exact format for Dubai-registered vehicles:

A12345 335A 2

That message breaks down as: plate code and number (A12345), zone code (335A), and hours (2). You'll find the zone code on the blue-and-orange signboard next to the parking bay.

SMS Format for Vehicles from Other Emirates

If your car is registered outside Dubai, add the emirate prefix before your plate details. An Abu Dhabi car would use:

AUH13 12345 335A 1

The emirate codes are: AUH (Abu Dhabi), SHJ (Sharjah), AJM (Ajman), UAQ (Umm Al Quwain), RAK (Ras Al Khaimah), and FUJ (Fujairah).

Extending Your Parking Time

The system sends you a reminder 10 minutes before your ticket expires. Reply with Y to extend for the same duration you originally paid. No need to retype the full message.

You can also pay through the mParking app (now called the Parkin app) or the RTA Dubai app. But the SMS method works without any app download, account setup, or internet connection — which is why most long-term residents still use it.

What Do Dubai's Parking Zone Colours Mean?

Dubai uses two parking zone types, identified by the colour of the curb markings. According to the RTA's current guidelines, the pricing breaks down as follows:

Peak hours are 8:00–10:00 AM and 4:00–8:00 PM, Monday to Saturday. Outside those windows, you pay the lower off-peak rate.

Premium zones are typically found near major malls, busy commercial districts like DIFC and Downtown Dubai, and tourist areas. Standard zones cover residential neighbourhoods and less congested commercial streets.

When Is Parking Free in Dubai?

Parking in Dubai is free every Sunday and on public holidays in standard zones. It's also free every night from 10:00 PM to 8:00 AM across both zone types. Friday is a paid parking day — a common misconception that catches new residents off guard, since the UAE weekend shifted to Saturday–Sunday in 2022.

Multi-storey car parks operated by Parkin (formerly RTA Parking) have their own rates and may charge 24/7. Valet parking services at malls and hotels also follow separate pricing — typically AED 30–80 per use, depending on the location. Always check the signboard at the entrance before assuming free parking applies.

How Does Salik Work in Dubai?

Salik is Dubai's electronic road toll system. Every time you drive through a Salik gate, the toll is deducted automatically from your prepaid Salik account via a tag on your windshield. As of January 2026, Dubai switched to dynamic pricing — the toll amount depends on when you drive.

Before January 2026, every Salik crossing cost a flat AED 4 regardless of time. According to the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), the new variable pricing is designed to reduce rush-hour congestion by shifting non-essential trips to off-peak windows. If you commute through two gates twice a day during peak hours, that's AED 24 per day — roughly AED 500 per month in tolls alone.

Where Are the 10 Salik Gates?

Dubai currently has 10 active Salik toll gates positioned on the city's busiest corridors. Knowing their locations helps you plan routes — or avoid peak-hour charges when there's an alternative road.

1. Al Barsha — Sheikh Zayed Road, near Mall of the Emirates
2. Al Safa North — Sheikh Zayed Road
3. Al Safa South — Sheikh Zayed Road (added late 2024)
4. Al Maktoum Bridge — crossing Dubai Creek
5. Al Garhoud Bridge — crossing Dubai Creek
6. Airport Tunnel — near Dubai International Airport
7. Jebel Ali — Sheikh Zayed Road towards Abu Dhabi
8. Al Mamzar North — Al Ittihad Road towards Sharjah
9. Al Mamzar South — Al Ittihad Road towards Sharjah
10. Business Bay Crossing — Al Khail Road (added late 2024)

Getting Your Salik Tag

You can buy a Salik tag at any ENOC or EPPCO petrol station, Zoom stores, or through the Salik app. The tag costs AED 50, which includes AED 50 of toll credit. Stick it to the inside of your windshield behind the rearview mirror. Top up your balance through the Salik app, website, or at petrol station kiosks.

If you drive through a gate without an active Salik tag, you'll be fined AED 100 per crossing — plus the toll charge. Those fines add up fast on a daily commute.

How Do You Register for Abu Dhabi's Darb Toll System?

If you drive between Dubai and Abu Dhabi, you'll pass through Abu Dhabi's Darb toll gates. Darb works differently from Salik — there's no physical tag. The system reads your number plate automatically using cameras, and the toll is charged to your registered Darb account.

Registration costs AED 100, with AED 50 credited to your account as starting balance. You can register through the Darb website or the Darb app. You'll need your traffic file number, Emirates ID, a working email address, and a mobile number linked to your traffic file.

Darb toll gates operate Monday to Friday during peak hours only: 7:00–9:00 AM and 5:00–7:00 PM. Each crossing costs AED 4, capped at AED 16 per day. Weekends and public holidays are free. That daily cap is a real advantage over Salik if you're making multiple crossings — four trips and you're maxed out.

If you don't register and drive through a Darb gate, you'll receive fines through your vehicle's registration. According to the Abu Dhabi Integrated Transport Centre (ITC), the fine for an unregistered vehicle passing through a Darb gate is AED 100 per crossing.

5 Parking Mistakes That Lead to Fines

Based on the most frequent parking violations issued by RTA and Parkin in Dubai, these are the mistakes that cost drivers the most:

1. Wrong SMS format. One typo in your plate number or zone code means the payment doesn't register. You'll come back to a AED 150 fine for "non-payment." Always double-check the confirmation SMS before walking away.
2. Assuming Friday is free. The UAE weekend is Saturday–Sunday, not Friday–Saturday. Free parking is on Sundays, not Fridays. This trips up new residents more than anything else.
3. Overstaying in a premium zone. Premium zones have a 4-hour maximum. Even if you pay for 4 hours, staying 4 hours and 5 minutes means a AED 100 fine for exceeding the allowed duration.
4. Parking on pavements or sidewalks. It looks harmless, but it carries a AED 400 fine. RTA enforcement vans with cameras patrol residential areas specifically for this.
5. Ignoring multi-storey car park rules. Some covered car parks charge 24/7, including Sundays. Don't assume the "free Sunday" rule applies everywhere.

For a full breakdown of RTA traffic fines and how to check them online, read our guide on how to check and pay traffic fines.

Salik vs. Darb: What's the Difference?

If you drive across both emirates, you'll interact with both systems. Here's how they compare at a glance:

You need both if you commute between the two cities. There's no cross-system integration — your Salik balance doesn't cover Darb gates, and vice versa.

Your Parking and Toll Quick Reference

Keep these on your phone for the first few weeks of driving in Dubai. The parking SMS number is 7275. Standard zones cost AED 2–4 per hour depending on peak timing. Free parking is every Sunday, public holidays, and nightly from 10 PM to 8 AM. The Salik app and Darb app both let you check your balance and top up in under a minute.

If your car needs attention after all that driving, the right garage makes a big difference. Whether you need to know how to renew your car registration or just find a shop for routine service, having a trusted mechanic on hand saves you time and money.

New to driving in the UAE? Bookmark Car Garage Finder for when you need a trusted mechanic — or jump straight to garages in Dubai to browse by service type and customer reviews.