Abu Dhabi Parking SMS: Mawaqif Number, Format, Fees and Timings

Last updated: October 21, 2026

Parking in Abu Dhabi does not have to mean hunting for a meter or downloading another app. Standing beside a Mawaqif bay, you can pay by text message in under a minute. This guide explains exactly how abu dhabi parking sms works: the number to text, the message format, Standard vs Premium bays, fees, timings, and how to extend before your session runs out.

Quick Answer: Abu Dhabi Parking SMS at a Glance

To pay for Mawaqif parking by SMS, send a text to 3009 in this format: [emirate code + plate category] [plate number] [parking type] [duration in hours]. For example, an Abu Dhabi car, category 5, plate 12345, in a Standard bay for 2 hours, would text AUH5 12345 S 2 to 3009. Use S for Standard and P for Premium. Always wait for the confirmation SMS before you walk away: a message in your sent folder does not by itself mean your session is active.

Item	Detail
SMS number	3009
Format	Emirate code + plate category, plate number, S or P, hours
Standard fee	AED 2 per hour or AED 15 for a full day, maximum stay 24 hours
Premium fee	AED 3 per hour, maximum stay 4 hours
Paid hours	8:00 AM to midnight, Monday to Saturday
Free days	Sundays and public holidays

What Is Mawaqif Parking in Abu Dhabi?

Mawaqif is Abu Dhabi’s public parking system, managed by Abu Dhabi Mobility under the Department of Municipalities and Transport. It covers the paid on-street bays you see across the city, in commercial areas, around offices and government buildings, and in residential districts. The kerb colour and the nearby sign tell you which kind of bay you are in, and that matters because the price and the maximum stay are different. SMS payment is designed for these public surface bays, not for every car park in the city.

For charged vs free hours, see our Abu Dhabi parking times guide.

Standard vs Premium Parking: Check the Kerb Before You Text

Before you type anything, look at the kerb and the sign. Sending the wrong bay letter is an easy mistake, and paying the Standard rate in a Premium bay does not make the session valid.

Parking type	Kerb colour	Fee	Maximum stay
Standard (S)	Black and turquoise	AED 2 per hour or AED 15 for a full day	24 hours
Premium (P)	White and turquoise	AED 3 per hour	4 hours

Premium bays tend to sit in the busiest spots, close to offices, malls and government buildings, which is why they cost more and cap your stay at four hours. Standard bays are the everyday option across most of the city, and the AED 15 full-day rate makes them the better choice if you are staying for most of the day. Both types are chargeable from 8:00 AM to midnight, Monday to Saturday, and both are free on Sundays and public holidays. Outside the paid hours, from midnight to 8:00 AM, surface parking is free, but always check the sign on your bay, because restricted bays follow their own rules.

Watch for resident-marked Standard bays: without a permit you may use them outside the restricted period after paying, but from 9:00 PM to 8:00 AM only permit holders may use them. A paid SMS session does not override a permit restriction.

How to Pay Mawaqif Parking by SMS: Step by Step

Here is the full process, in order. It takes less than a minute once you know your plate details, so it is worth saving your usual message as a draft on your phone and just changing the bay letter and the hours each time.

1. Check the bay. Confirm from the kerb colour and the sign whether it is Standard (S) or Premium (P), and note the maximum stay.
2. Check your plate details. You need your emirate code plus plate category, exactly as on your registration card, and your plate number. Do not copy a code from an online example.
3. Open a new text message to 3009, from a UAE mobile number with enough credit or an active postpaid account.
4. Type the message. Use this format, with a single space between each part: [emirate code + plate category] [plate number] [S or P] [hours]. For example: AUH5 12345 S 2.
5. Send and wait. Wait for the confirmation SMS showing your vehicle details, parking type and expiry time. Keep it until your session ends as proof of payment.

Breaking Down the Format, Part by Part

In AUH5 12345 S 2, AUH5 is the plate source and category (AUH for Abu Dhabi, plus category 5), 12345 is the plate number with no spaces inside it, S selects Standard parking (swap it for P in a Premium bay), and 2 is the hours paid for. If any part is wrong, the system should send a rejection message, and your session will not be active until you correct it and get a confirmation.

What If Your Car Is Registered in Another Emirate?

You can still use the service with a car registered in another emirate, but you must use your own registration details, not an Abu Dhabi code. The message structure stays the same; only the first block changes. The emirate codes are:

Registered in	Code
Abu Dhabi	AUH
Dubai	DXB
Sharjah	SHJ
Ajman	AJM
Ras Al Khaimah	RAK
Umm Al Quwain	UAQ
Fujairah	FUJ

Plate categories differ across emirates, so check your registration card, or the meter or sign instructions, before you send the message. Do not assume one emirate’s system works in another: Sharjah parking SMS, for example, uses its own number and format. If you are heading back to Dubai, our Dubai parking guide covers parking there.

How to Extend Your Mawaqif Parking by SMS

If you need more time, extend before your session expires. The system sends a reminder before expiry, and you can reply with the letter E to 3009 to extend. The extension cannot take you past the bay’s maximum stay, so a Premium bay still caps at four hours in total and a Standard bay at 24 hours. If you have already passed expiry, an extension may not save you, so extend early rather than hoping for a grace period.

When SMS Payment Does Not Work

SMS is only for Mawaqif public surface parking. It does not pay for multi-storey car parks or malls on the Free Flow system, where number-plate cameras record entry and exit and you pay through the Darb app, a QR code, or the facility’s own route. Sending a roadside SMS for a mall stay does not cover that charge. SMS also does not override a restricted bay: People of Determination bays, loading areas and pavements follow separate rules.

Common SMS Mistakes That Leave You Unpaid

Most failed SMS payments come down to a small typing slip. Check this list before you leave the car:

• Wrong plate category or number. Check both against your registration card, not from memory.
• Wrong bay letter. S in a Premium bay, or P in a Standard bay, means the session does not match where you parked.
• Missing or extra spaces. The format needs one space between each part, with no spaces inside the plate number.
• Too many hours. More than 4 hours in a Premium bay, or 24 hours in a Standard bay, will be rejected.
• Leaving before confirmation. With no confirmation SMS, your parking is not paid, even if the message left your phone. Check the format and balance, then resend.
• Paying on a free day. On a Sunday or public holiday, surface parking is free, so no payment SMS is needed.

Mawaqif SMS vs the Darb App and Meters

SMS wins on simplicity: no app to open, no account to set up, and no meter to walk to. That makes it the best option for a one-off stop or for visitors. The Darb app is better if you park in Abu Dhabi regularly, because it keeps your vehicles saved and handles tolls and Free Flow parking in the same place. Meters and Mawaqif rechargeable cards still suit drivers who prefer to pay at the kerb. The fees and rules are the same whichever method you use; only the way you pay changes.

Abu Dhabi Parking SMS Fines to Avoid

Parking without a valid session, or letting a session expire, can lead to a fine linked to your plate number. The two fines most often reported are AED 200 for not paying and AED 100 for exceeding the paid time. Misusing a People of Determination bay carries a much heavier penalty of AED 1,000. Pay for the right bay, wait for the confirmation, and extend before the clock runs out. If you are fined despite paying, keep your confirmation SMS as proof.

FAQs About Abu Dhabi Parking SMS

What is the Abu Dhabi parking SMS number?

The Abu Dhabi parking SMS number is 3009. Send your Mawaqif payment message to 3009 from a UAE mobile number.

What is the exact Abu Dhabi parking SMS format?

The format is [emirate code + plate category] [plate number] [S or P] [hours], with a space between each part. For example, AUH5 12345 S 2 pays for 2 hours of Standard parking for an Abu Dhabi car, category 5, plate 12345.

What do S and P mean in the Mawaqif SMS?

S means Standard: black and turquoise kerbs, AED 2 per hour or AED 15 a day, up to 24 hours. P means Premium: white and turquoise kerbs, AED 3 per hour, up to 4 hours.

Can I pay for Abu Dhabi parking by SMS with a Dubai-registered car?

Yes. Use the same structure to 3009, but start with your own emirate code and plate category, such as DXB plus your category, instead of an Abu Dhabi code.

How do I extend my Abu Dhabi parking by SMS?

Before expiry, reply with the letter E to 3009. The extension cannot pass the bay’s maximum stay: Premium caps at 4 hours, Standard at 24 hours.

Is Abu Dhabi parking free on Sundays?

Yes. Mawaqif Standard and Premium surface parking is free on Sundays and public holidays. Private, multi-storey and restricted bays may differ, so check the sign.

What happens if I do not get a confirmation SMS?

Your session is not active. Check the format, plate details, bay letter and mobile balance, then resend. Do not leave the vehicle until you have a confirmation.

Can I use SMS parking in a multi-storey car park or a mall in Abu Dhabi?

No. SMS is for Mawaqif public surface parking only. Multi-storey car parks and malls on Free Flow use plate recognition and their own routes, such as the Darb app or an on-site QR code.

Bottom Line

Abu Dhabi parking SMS is simple once you know the four parts: text your emirate code plus plate category, plate number, S or P for the bay type, and the hours you need, to 3009, and wait for the confirmation. Standard bays cost AED 2 an hour or AED 15 a day for up to 24 hours, Premium bays cost AED 3 an hour for up to 4 hours, and both are free on Sundays and public holidays. Check the kerb before you text, extend with E before time runs out, and keep the confirmation until you drive away.