Abu Dhabi Airport Parking Fee: Terminal A Rates, Valet & Long-Stay Prices

Last updated: October 21, 2026

Driving yourself to Abu Dhabi’s airport is one of the easiest ways to start a trip, but only if you know the tariff before you reach the barrier. The abu dhabi airport parking fee depends on one simple choice: are you dropping someone off, or leaving your car there while you travel? Short stays are charged in steps by the hour, while trips of two days or more are far cheaper when you pre-book.

Quick Answer: Abu Dhabi Airport Parking Fee at a Glance

Short answer: Drive-up parking at Zayed International Airport is free for the first 10 minutes, then costs AED 10 for 11 to 15 minutes, AED 25 for up to 30 minutes, AED 35 for up to 2 hours, AED 65 for up to 4 hours, and AED 125 for up to 24 hours, with each extra day at AED 100. Pre-booked long-stay parking is much cheaper for longer trips: AED 225 for 2 to 3 days, AED 325 for 4 to 7 days, and AED 400 for 8 to 14 days, plus AED 50 per extra day from day 15 to day 30. If your trip lasts two days or more, pre-book; if you are only picking someone up, keep it inside the free window or the first hour.

Which Terminal Do You Park At? Terminal A Explained

First, a name change that still confuses travellers. Abu Dhabi International Airport was renamed Zayed International Airport, and its airport code is AUH. Older guides, booking pages and even some tariff tables still say Abu Dhabi International Airport, so if you see that name, it means the same airport. What matters more is the terminal. Since the major rebuild, Terminal A is the airport’s main terminal, and all airlines check in there. It sits about 30 kilometres east of Abu Dhabi city centre, and the short-term car park is directly opposite the terminal, a walk of roughly one to five minutes through covered pathways.

This is why you should ignore old Terminal 1 and Terminal 3 parking tables that still circulate online. Some of them quote AED 240 for 24 hours, a figure from the old terminal layout. That is not the current Terminal A drive-up rate. If a page you are reading splits prices by Terminal 1, Terminal 2 and Terminal 3 without mentioning Terminal A, treat it as outdated and check the tariff board at the car park entrance instead.

Short-Term Parking Rates: Drive-Up Prices at Terminal A

Short-term parking is the car park right by Terminal A, and it is the right choice for drop-offs, pick-ups and short visits. The tariff rises in steps rather than by the minute, so knowing where the steps fall saves real money: a 31-minute stay costs the same as a 2-hour stay, while a 16-minute stay costs more than double an 11-minute stay.

Duration	Drive-up fee (AED)
0 to 10 minutes	Free
11 to 15 minutes	10
16 to 30 minutes	25
31 minutes to 2 hours	35
Up to 3 hours	55
Up to 4 hours	65
Up to 24 hours	125
Each additional day	100

Two warnings belong with this table. First, airport parking is charged every day of the week, including Sundays, unlike Abu Dhabi city street parking, where Sundays are free. Second, a few older pages still show a shorter free window of around 6 minutes, with AED 15 for 6 to 15 minutes. The most recent guides agree on the 10-minute free window shown above, but the board at the entrance is the final word on the day you travel.

Long-Term Parking: Pre-Booked Rates That Beat Drive-Up Prices

Long-stay parking is the budget option for anyone leaving a car at the airport while travelling, and it must be booked in advance through the airport’s official parking booking site. It sits a short drive from Terminal A, with a free shuttle to the terminal. The saving is large because the pre-booked bands are flat rates for several days, not a daily rate multiplied by the length of your trip.

Pre-booked duration	Fee (AED)
2 to 3 days	225
4 to 7 days	325
8 to 14 days	400
Each additional day, day 15 to day 30	50

The comparison makes the decision for you. A 7-day trip on pre-booked long-stay parking costs AED 325, while the same 7 days in the drive-up car park would cost AED 125 for the first day plus AED 100 for each of the next six days, a total of AED 725, a saving of AED 400. A 3-day trip shows the same pattern: AED 225 pre-booked against AED 325 drive-up.

To pre-book, use the airport’s official parking booking site, choose your departure and arrival dates and times, and enter your name, phone number and vehicle plate details. Keep the confirmation on your phone, since mobile signal can be weak near the barrier, and photograph your bay number and level when you park.

VIP and Valet Parking at Zayed International Airport

Valet parking is the premium option at Terminal A, run by the airport’s official valet operator, Prestige Valet Parking. You drive to the valet area, hand over the keys, and staff park the car while you walk straight into the terminal. It suits business travellers, VIP arrivals, elderly passengers, anyone with heavy luggage, and late-night arrivals. Valet prices include 5 percent VAT and bank charges, according to the operator’s official price sheet.

Valet option	Duration	Fee (AED)
Standard valet	Up to 30 minutes	40
Standard valet	1 hour	50
Standard valet	Up to 4 hours	85
Standard valet	Above 4 hours to 24 hours	145
Standard valet	Each additional day (up to 30 days)	120
VIP valet	Less than 4 hours	220
VIP valet	24 hours	430
VIP valet	Each additional day after 24 hours	120
Pre-booked valet	2 to 3 days	275
Pre-booked valet	4 to 7 days	425
Pre-booked valet	8 to 15 days	540

Valet is worth it when time matters more than money, and poor value when it does not. For a quick 30-minute farewell, standard valet at AED 40 costs only AED 15 more than the AED 25 drive-up fee, and you skip the walk entirely. For a week away, pre-booked valet at AED 425 is AED 100 more than pre-booked long-stay at AED 325, a reasonable premium for doorstep drop-off and collection.

How to Pay for Parking at Abu Dhabi Airport

Payment at Terminal A is ticketless, using number plate recognition, so keep your plate clean and readable. Card payment is accepted at the exit barrier, while cash is accepted only at the payment machines in the lift lobbies, not at the barrier itself. If you only carry cash, pay at a lift lobby machine before you drive to the exit. If anything goes wrong at the barrier, the airport parking contact number is +971 2 505 2528.

Airport Parking vs City Parking After You Land

One more distinction matters once you leave the airport. Airport tariffs apply every day, but Abu Dhabi city parking works differently, with its own paid hours, bay types and Sunday exemption. If you are staying in the city after your flight, read our guide to Abu Dhabi parking times before you park on the street. Visitors driving between emirates should check the local system each time: our guide to Dubai parking covers a different payment system, and drivers heading to Sharjah will find the SMS system in our Sharjah parking SMS guide.

Tips to Save Money on Abu Dhabi Airport Parking

• Pre-book anything over one day. The saving on a week is around AED 400 compared with drive-up rates, and your space is reserved in peak season.
• Wait for the bags text. Ask your arriving passenger to message you when they have their bags, not when the plane lands. Immigration and baggage reclaim can add 30 to 60 minutes, and that delay is what pushes a free pick-up into a paid one.
• Pay by card at the exit or cash at the lift lobby. Exit barriers are card-only, so cash payers must stop at a lift lobby machine first.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is parking free at Zayed International Airport?

Short-term drive-up parking is free for the first 10 minutes only. After that, charges apply, starting at AED 10 for 11 to 15 minutes. Airport parking is charged every day of the week, including Sundays, unlike Abu Dhabi city street parking.

How much is parking at Abu Dhabi airport for 24 hours?

Drive-up short-term parking costs AED 125 for up to 24 hours. Each additional day in the drive-up car park costs AED 100. For longer stays, pre-booked long-stay parking is much cheaper.

How much does a week of parking cost at Abu Dhabi airport?

Pre-booked long-stay parking for 4 to 7 days costs AED 325. The same 7 days in the drive-up car park would cost AED 725, which is AED 125 for the first day plus AED 100 for each of the next six days.

Can I pre-book parking at Zayed International Airport?

Yes. Long-stay parking can be booked in advance through the airport’s official parking booking site, and pre-booking is required for the Long Stay option. Pre-booked bands are AED 225 for 2 to 3 days, AED 325 for 4 to 7 days, and AED 400 for 8 to 14 days, plus AED 50 per extra day from day 15 to day 30.

How do I pay for parking at Abu Dhabi airport?

Parking is ticketless and uses number plate recognition. You can pay by card at the exit barrier, or with cash or card at the payment machines in the lift lobbies. Cash is not accepted at the exit barrier itself, so cash payers should pay at a lift lobby machine before driving out.

Is valet parking worth it at Abu Dhabi airport?

Valet is worth it when time and convenience matter most. Standard valet costs AED 40 for up to 30 minutes, AED 85 for up to 4 hours, and AED 145 for 4 to 24 hours, while VIP valet costs AED 220 for less than 4 hours and AED 430 for 24 hours. For a quick farewell the premium over drive-up parking is small; for a week away, pre-booked valet at AED 425 is only AED 100 more than pre-booked long-stay parking.

Which terminal do I park at at Abu Dhabi airport?

Park at Terminal A, the airport’s main terminal, where all airlines check in. The short-term car park is directly opposite Terminal A, a walk of roughly one to five minutes. Ignore old Terminal 1, 2 and 3 parking tables you may still find online, as they come from the airport’s previous terminal layout.

Bottom Line

The abu dhabi airport parking fee is simple once you match the car park to your trip. Under 30 minutes, drive up, keep it quick, and pay at most AED 25. Over two days, pre-book long-stay parking and pay AED 225 to AED 400 instead of AED 100 a day in the drive-up car park. If

you want someone else to handle the car, standard valet from AED 40 is a modest premium, while VIP valet is a luxury choice at AED 220 and above. Check the tariff board at the entranceon the day and keep a card ready for the exit barrier.