The Abu Dhabi Department of Transport (DoT) has a set of parking restrictions that both visitors and residents should be aware of and observe. The Mawaqif city’s paid parking system makes obtaining a parking spot in the city easier and faster. Aside from a few exceptions, motorists in Abu Dhabi must pay a certain parking cost.
Do you want to know how Mawaqif works? Alternatively, how much do you have to pay for parking near your workplace or home? If that’s the case, keep reading because we’ve covered everything there is to know about parking in Abu Dhabi.
Overview
The Department of Transport in Abu Dhabi has established the Mawaqif public parking scheme. The emirate’s public parking zones are all paid zones. On Fridays and national holidays, however, parking in Abu Dhabi is free. Thousands of parking meters have been put throughout the city to ensure simple access to parking places.
Types of Parking Permits in Abu Dhabi
Mawaqif offers a variety of parking alternatives. Users can apply for a parking permit that is appropriate for them. The following is a list of the many parking licenses accessible to motorists.
Residential Parking Permits
Residential parking permits are available to tenants and property owners. Only if the owner or tenant’s first-degree relations (mother, father, wife, sons, brothers, and sisters) live in the same house can this permit be provided. It permits residents to park their vehicles in paid parking spaces within the applicant’s residential area without incurring additional fees.
Emirati families residing in apartments are eligible for four free parking permits. Remember that each permit is only valid for one car. Mawaqif service centers can provide residents with residential parking permits. The procedure for obtaining a permit is straightforward.
Complete the application and attach the relevant documents.
Make the necessary payment.
The Department of Transportation will issue you a parking permit.
Fee Structure for Residential Permits
Mawaqif signs that indicate “Resident Permit Only” may quickly identify areas allocated for residents, which are enforced from 9:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. The following is a breakdown of the fee structure for apartment and villa residents:
Fee in flats for UAE nationals – free for four vehicles
In villas, there is no charge for UAE nationals
Non-UAE nationals renting villas and flats in Abu Dhabi must pay the following fees:
AED 800 for the first vehicle
AED 1,200 for the second vehicle
Some of Abu Dhabi’s new residential zones have designated parking spaces. The majority of buildings on Al Reem Island are reported to have subterranean parking.
Free parking is available to tenants of the Sigma Towers condominium on Al Reem Island. Burj Mohammed Bin Rashid WTC in Al Khalidiyah and Nation Towers in the Corniche Area are two other prominent structures with rental apartments in Abu Dhabi that feature free parking.
Visit the Department of Transportation website or call the customer care center for further information about Mawaqif registration, renewal, cancellations, and payments:
- Mawaqif contact number: 800-88-888
Limited-term Public Parking
Residents can also get short-term public parking permits from Abu Dhabi’s Integrated Transport Centre. Customers, people, and businesses can park in regular surface public parking places with restricted parking permits. In the capital city and Al Ain, regular parking places are designated with black and blue paint. The parking fees and duration are listed below.
| Duration | Parking Permit Cost |
| 1 Month | AED 391 |
| 3 Months | AED 1,174 |
| 6 Months | AED 2,348 |
| 1 Year | AED 4,695 |
How to Apply for Limited Term Permit?
Visit www.itc.gov.ae and look under the E-services area to apply for the permits online. Motorists must give proper information and papers, including their Emirates ID card and vehicle registration card.
Terms and Conditions for Limited-term Parking
Mawaqif’s limited-term permit will not replace resident parking permits; rather, it will replace the daily parking ticket for conventional parking, which costs AED 2 per hour and AED 15 for the day.
The limited-term parking permit prohibits users from making parking reservations, using reserved spaces, or parking in forbidden areas.
Users can’t park in residential zones, villa areas, or premium parking spaces marked with white and blue paint using the limited-time permit.
If a permit holder wishes to drive outside of the city or nation, they must make a request to park their vehicle in a designated parking space. It will keep the car from being hauled away or being considered abandoned.
Abu Dhabi Parking Payment Methods
In Abu Dhabi, ITC offers a variety of parking payment options. Choose a payment option that is most convenient for you. Let’s look at the various options for paying for parking in the capital.
Mawaqif Rechargeable Cards
The programme offers motorists the option of purchasing Mawaqif Rechargeable Cards to make parking payments as needed. Parking payments are deducted automatically from your Mawaqif (stored value account) account, which you must first create. Parking can also be paid for by SMS. For further information, see Mawaqif parking by SMS.
The card costs AED 50 and has a balance of the same amount. Once you link your card to your Mawaqif account, the amount will be added to your account.
How to Activate Mawaqif Rechargeable Card?
To activate your rechargeable card online, follow these steps.
- To apply for a Mawaqif account, go to ITC’s official website.
- If you already have a Mawaqif account, sign in.
- Click “Link Rechargeable Card” and fill in your card information.
- You’ll receive a confirmation SMS with the current balance on your card after the card is linked.
- If you’d like to activate your Mawaqif rechargeable card via SMS, simply send the following message to 3009:
LINK<SPACE>CARD NO<SPACE>CVC
- It’s vital to remember that the card number is 16 digits long. The CVC is a three-digit number that appears on the right side of the card number.
This account, which is linked to a motorist’s registered Du or Etisalat mobile number, is required for Abu Dhabi parking payments. After you’ve created your Mawaqif account, you’ll need to fund it with the amounts required for paid parking in the city. Customer Happiness Centers, dedicated kiosks, and safe credit card transactions online are all options.
M-mawaqif Service
Your official Mawaqif account will also assist you in using the M-mawaqif service, which allows motorists to pay parking fines using their registered Du or Etisalat numbers.
Send an SMS to 3009 (in a specified format).
Receive a parking permit with your parking information through text message.
Parking attendants will use their portable devices to validate your information.
Terms of Use for Mawaqif and M-Mawaqif Service
The following are the parking regulations in Abu Dhabi for Mawaqif and m-Mawaqif accounts:
Vehicle owners with private plates must create a Mawaqif account.
Mawaqif registration is required to use M-Mawaqif online services.
To use M-Mawaqif and Mawaqif, users must have a registered UAE Etisalat or Du mobile phone.
M-Mawaqif registration is required for all motorists.
The M-Mawaqif service is only available to residents who own vehicles with private plates.
Tariffs determine the cost of M-Mawaqif.
Sending text messages to 3009 incurs additional regular SMS rates.
Charges for Public Parking in Abu Dhabi
It’s usually a good idea to think about public parking fees before leaving the house, especially if you plan to park in regions that aren’t in your neighborhood. From Saturday through Thursday, Mawaqif parking is available from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 a.m. Here’s how much parking costs in Abu Dhabi:
AED 2 per hour for standard parking spaces (black and turquoise curbs), AED 15 for 24-hour parking
AED 3 per hour for premium parking spaces (white and turquoise curbs).
Parking Fines Abu Dhabi
Let’s talk about parking fees now that we’ve covered the basics of parking in Abu Dhabi. Vehicles parked illegally are given a 10-minute grace period by Mawaqif. Fines are imposed on motorists who violate Mawaqif regulations. You can also check your Abu Dhabi traffic fines to see if you have any pending charges, such as tailgating fines. The following is a list of parking offenses and fines that drivers should be aware of:
- Parking in prohibited areas: AED 200
- Abuse of parking space: AED 200
- Parking vehicles on pavements: AED 200
