Dubai Parking SMS: Number 7275, Exact Format, Zone Codes and Fees

Last updated: October 21, 2026

Paying for street parking in Dubai does not have to mean hunting for a meter or carrying coins. With the RTA parking SMS service, known as mParking, one text message starts a parking session, and the reply you get back is your virtual ticket. This guide covers the exact dubai parking sms number, the format that works, the zone codes, the fees, and what to do when a message fails.

Quick answer: Send your plate number, the zone code on the nearest parking sign, and the number of hours to 7275. For example: A12345 335A 2 pays for Dubai plate A12345 in zone 335A for 2 hours. The fee comes off your mobile balance if you are prepaid, or is added to your postpaid bill, plus a 30 fils SMS charge. Do not walk away until the confirmation arrives.

What Is Dubai Parking SMS (mParking)?

mParking is the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) SMS service for paying public parking fees in Dubai. Public parking is now operated by Parkin, with the RTA remaining the regulator. The SMS route needs no app, no account, and no internet connection, only a mobile signal, enough balance, and the three details in the message.

That makes SMS ideal for a one-off visit or a rental car, including cars registered outside Dubai, although the format changes for non-Dubai plates. The service is available to Etisalat (e&) and du subscribers, and guides also list Virgin Mobile.

Dubai Parking SMS Number and Exact Format

The dubai parking sms number is 7275, which spells PARK on a phone keypad. There is no separate number for tourists or rental cars. Whether you search for rta parking sms or Dubai parking by text, the destination is the same: 7275.

For a Dubai-registered car, the message has three parts, separated by single spaces, in this order:

Part	What to type	Example
Plate	Plate code and number exactly as printed	A12345
Zone code	Code on the signboard nearest your bay	335A
Duration	Number of hours you want	2
Full message to 7275	Plate, space, zone, space, hours	A12345 335A 2

Spacing matters more than anything else. A missing or doubled space, or the plate and zone run together, may mean the message is not recognised, and an unrecognised message is not a paid session. If you have registered a nickname for your vehicle with mParking, Parkin guides show you can send the nickname instead, for example Ali1 335A 2. First-time users need no registration.

How to Pay Dubai Parking by SMS, Step by Step

1. Find the sign. Note the zone code, paid hours, and maximum stay on the blue and orange signboard nearest your bay. Neighbouring streets can have different codes.
2. Open a new message to 7275. Save 7275 in your contacts as Dubai Parking for next time.
3. Type plate, zone, and hours, with single spaces. For example: A12345 335A 2.
4. Send and wait for the confirmation. Check that the plate, zone, and expiry time match what you paid for, before you leave the car.
5. Keep the confirmation on your phone. You need no paper ticket for an SMS session, but the message is your proof if anything is queried.

Half-hour parking is listed in RTA guides, with formats including 0.5, 1/2, 30, and 30 mins, although availability can vary by zone.

Dubai Parking SMS Format for Non-Dubai Plates

This is where most failed messages happen. If your car is registered outside Dubai, the emirate or country code and your plate code join together as one token, then a space, then the plate number, zone, and hours. Merging everything into one token, such as AUH12345, is the classic mistake that causes a rejection.

Registered in	Code	Example message to 7275
Abu Dhabi	AUH	AUH13 12345 335A 1
Sharjah	SHJ	SHJ2 12345 335A 2
Ajman	AJM	AJM1 12345 335A 1
Umm Al Quwain	UAQ	UAQ1 12345 335A 1
Ras Al Khaimah	RAK	RAK1 12345 335A 1
Fujairah	FUJ	FUJ1 12345 335A 1
Saudi Arabia	KSA	KSA 123ABC 335A 4

Abu Dhabi and Sharjah plate codes are numbers rather than letters, which is why they sit against the emirate code instead of being merged into the plate number. Motorcycles use the same pattern with a B and a space at the very front, for example B AUH14 00000 335A 1. For a fuller look at Dubai parking beyond SMS, see our Dubai parking guide.

How to Find Your Dubai Parking Zone Code

The zone code is printed on the blue and orange signboard at the head of each row of bays, usually as three digits followed by a letter, such as 335A or 336C. The letter identifies the zone type, and the zone type decides what you pay and sometimes how long you can stay.

Codes change from street to street, so always read the sign closest to your bay. If it is missing or unreadable, do not guess: the Parkin app shows the zone for your location.

Dubai Parking Fees, Timings, and Free Hours

What you pay depends on the zone on the sign, not on the payment method. SMS, WhatsApp, and the apps charge the same zone tariff; the only SMS extra is the 30 fils per message. The widely published base hourly rates are:

Zone	Area type	Base rate per hour
A	Commercial	AED 4
B	Commercial, less busy	AED 3
C	Residential	AED 2
D	Residential	AED 2
E	Special areas	AED 4
F	Special, such as Barsha Heights	AED 2
G	Special, such as Downtown	AED 4
I	Special, JLT Upper Commercial	AED 10

Most public zones run paid hours from 8:00 AM to 10:00 PM, Monday to Saturday. Parking is free in most zones overnight from 10:00 PM to 8:00 AM, and free all day on Sundays and public holidays. Some zones have their own hours, including zones paid around the clock, so the signboard in front of you always beats any general rule in a guide. Some street zones also allow only 4 hours at a time.

Recent 2026 guides also report premium peak rates (8:00 to 10:00 AM and 4:00 to 8:00 PM) and a 5 percent VAT addition from 1 June 2026, taking AED 4 to AED 4.20 and AED 6 to AED 6.30. Treat your sign and confirmation as authoritative.

How to Extend Dubai Parking by SMS

About 10 minutes before your session ends, 7275 sends a reminder. Reply Y to extend for the same duration, or send a fresh full message to 7275 before expiry if you want a different length of time. Once a session lapses, the bay is unpaid immediately.

Why Your Dubai Parking SMS Failed

If no confirmation comes back, the fault is almost always in one token of the message. Work through this checklist before assuming the service is down.

Problem	Likely cause	Fix
No reply at all	Wrong format, or not enough balance	Re-check plate, zone, and spaces, top up, and resend
Non-Dubai plate rejected	Emirate code merged into the plate number	Split it out, for example AUH13 12345 335A 1
Confirmation shows a different zone	Wrong signboard read	Read the sign nearest your bay and resend
Message will not send	Short-code messaging barred on your line	Ask your operator to lift the bar, or use the Parkin app
Session expired	Reminder missed or extension sent too late	Send a fresh message before expiry next time

If no confirmation arrives within a couple of minutes, resend the identical correct message. You can also call the RTA helpline on 800-9090.

Other Ways to Pay for Dubai Parking

SMS is fastest for a single visit, but not always cheapest. The same plate, zone, and duration can be paid through the RTA WhatsApp chatbot Mahboub on +971 58 800 9090, which guides you through the message and, according to Parkin, carries no extra SMS fee. The Parkin app, the RTA Dubai app, and the DubaiNow app also handle parking payments, adding session history and renewal options.

At meters and multi-storey car parks, you can also pay with a Nol card, a contactless bank card, or a digital wallet at supported machines. Private parking is different again: mall car parks run on their own tariffs, as our Dubai Mall parking fee guide explains.

Dubai Parking SMS vs Other Emirates

The number 7275 only works inside Dubai. Abu Dhabi uses Mawaqif SMS to 3009, adding a parking type, S for standard or P for premium, after the plate details. Sharjah uses SMS to 5566, covered in full in our Sharjah parking SMS guide. Ajman uses SMS to 5155 under its own system.

A Quick Safety Warning

Parkin has warned customers that its official SMS communications come only from the short code 7275. Do not follow links or pay through messages from any other number claiming to be Parkin. If a message looks suspicious, check the Parkin app or official Parkin website directly.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Dubai parking SMS number?

The Dubai parking SMS number is 7275, which spells PARK on a phone keypad. It is the only short code for paid public street parking in Dubai, for Dubai plates and for cars from other emirates, provided you use the correct format.

What is the exact Dubai parking SMS format?

For a Dubai plate, send plate number, zone code, and duration, separated by single spaces, to 7275, for example A12345 335A 2. For a non-Dubai plate, put the emirate code and plate code together first, for example AUH13 12345 335A 1.

How much does Dubai parking by SMS cost?

You pay the zone tariff for the hours you choose, plus a 30 fils SMS charge per message. Base rates run from AED 2 to AED 4 per hour in most zones, with Zone I in JLT Upper Commercial at AED 10 per hour. Recent 2026 guides also report premium peak rates and 5 percent VAT, so check your confirmation.

How do I extend Dubai parking by SMS?

About 10 minutes before your session ends, 7275 sends a reminder. Reply Y to extend for the same duration, or send a fresh full message to 7275 before expiry if you want a different duration. Always extend before the session lapses.

Can I pay for Dubai parking by SMS for an Abu Dhabi plate?

Yes, but the format changes. Use the emirate code and plate code together as one token, then the plate number, zone, and hours, for example AUH13 12345 335A 1. Merging them, such as AUH12345, is the most common reason a non-Dubai message is rejected.

Is Dubai parking free on Sundays?

Yes, parking is free in most public zones all day on Sundays and on public holidays, and free overnight from 10:00 PM to 8:00 AM. Some zones have their own hours, so always check the signboard nearest your bay first.

Bottom Line

Dubai parking by SMS is a one-message job, as long as you get the three tokens right. Read the zone code off the nearest sign, type your plate exactly as printed, add the hours, and send it to 7275 with single spaces between each part. Wait for the confirmation, and act on the 10-minute reminder if you stay longer.