Dubai: Looking for parking in Abu Dhabi? Then it’s best to familiarise yourself with the capital’s paid parking system – MAWAQiF.Here’s everything you need to know about where you can park, how much it costs, and when parking is free of charge in Abu Dhabi.What is MAWAQiF?MAWAQiF is the official parking management system in Abu Dhabi, operated under the Integrated Transport Centre or ITC (Abu Dhabi Mobility), an affiliate of the Department of Municipalities and Transport.It is responsible for managing and organising parking spaces in the emirate, and ensuring a more accessible and less congested city, as part of Plan Abu Dhabi 2030 – an urban structure framework plan, designed to help Abu Dhabi filter and respond to current and future development needs.MAWAQiF inspectors monitor parking systems, enforce the city’s parking legislations, and offer advice when needed, about services and regulations.What types of public parking does Abu Dhabi have?In Abu Dhabi, you may have noticed different kerb colours in different areas – these colours matter. They identify the type of public parking space, and come with differing fees. Here’s the main difference:Premium parkingColours: White and turquoise striped kerbsFees: Dh3 per hourMaximum limit for parking: 4 hoursSchedule: 8am to 12am, free on Sundays and public holidaysStandard parkingColours: Black and turquoise striped kerbsFees: Dh2 per hour or Dh15 for the whole dayMaximum limit for parking: 24 hoursSchedule: 8am to 12am, free on Sundays and public holidaysWhat permits does MAWAQiF offer?MAWAQiF issues both villa and resident parking permits to property owners or tenants, in addition to first- and second-degree relatives living in the same residence. The authority also provides visitor parking permits for villa zones.Here are details on each kind of parking permit:Resident parking permitResident parking permits are part of the Standard Parking spaces located in residential areas. They are usually marked with a turquoise line or with ‘Resident Permit Only’ MAWAQiF signage.Timings: Between 9pm to 8am, parking in these areas is limited to residents with parking permits, at no additional cost. Outside these timings, non-permit holders (the general public) may use the same parking spaces after paying the fees.Number of permits allowed: UAE nationals may receive up to four permits, while non-UAE nationals may receive up to two. Additional permits can be requested in both cases, though final issuance is at the inspector’s discretion.Villa resident parking permitVilla resident parking spaces, located in areas with villas, are marked with ‘Villa Resident Permit Only’ MAWAQiF signage.Timings: Using these parking spaces is limited to villa residents parking permit holders. They may park their vehicles in the allocated zone at no additional cost, all day. Visitors can park their cars in these spaces after obtaining Villa Visitors Parking permits, and parking before 2am.Number of permits allowed: For UAE nationals, the number of permits is provided based on the property owner’s request. For non-UAE nationals, up to two permits are issued, and you can request for additional permits. Final issuance is based on the inspector’s discretion.Villa visitor parking permitThe villa owner may request a parking permit for a visitor by sending an SMS from their registered phone number. Up to four phone numbers can be registered.Timings: The permit is valid for six hours once the request is submitted, between 2am to 8am.Cost: The villa visitor parking permit is free for UAE nationals, and costs Dh2 per hour for non-UAE nationals.How do I park in a multi-storey parking building in Abu Dhabi?There are seven public multi-storey car parks within Abu Dhabi. Picture credit: WAMThere are seven public multi-storey car parks within Abu Dhabi, operated by ITC, and which include 3,788 parking spaces. Holders of multi-storey permits can use it in all buildings in Abu Dhabi city.Unlike standard parking spaces, the multi-storey parking tariff applies 24/7. Here is the fee schedule:One hour: Dh2One day: Dh15Three months: Dh1,369Six months: Dh2,73812 months: Dh5,474Where are the multi-storey parking buildings located?The buildings are located in these areas, according to Abu Dhabi Mobility:Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, behind LIWA Centre.Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, behind the Department of Finance.Sheikha Fatima bint Mubarak Street, behind Zakher Hotel.Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, behind Bahrain Bank.Al Lulu Street, behind Ahalia Hospital.Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed the First Street, behind Al Mashreq Bank.Al Dana multi-storey car park, in front of Emirates College of Technology.How do I pay for parking in Abu Dhabi?For multi-storey parking: In June 2026, Q Mobility, a smart mobility and transportation infrastructure company, announced the activation of a free flow paid parking system in public multi-storey buildings on Abu Dhabi Island.Using artificial intelligence (AI) and automatic licence plate recognition, parking sessions begin automatically upon vehicle entry, and fees are calculated and deducted directly from the Darb wallet upon exit, without the need for SMS, payment machines, QR code scanning, or any manual action. All you need to do is ensure you have sufficient balance in your Darb wallet before using the service.For other parking zones: There are several ways you can pay for public parking spaces in Abu Dhabi, including the TAMM or Darb apps, via SMS, or through MAWAQiF payment machines. Follow the steps to learn how to pay through all of these channels.Pay via the Darb or TAMM appsThe Darb app, managed by Q Mobility, and the TAMM app, which is the Abu Dhabi government’s official services platform, both offer convenient ways to pay for parking around the city. Follow the steps below, as they are similar for both apps:Download the ‘Darb – Urban Mobility’ app or the ‘TAMM – Abu Dhabi Government’ app via the Google Play Store or Apple App Store. Sign in with your UAE PASS.Under ‘Services’, tap on the ‘Pay for Parking’ icon.Enter your details: Select your vehicle, enter the parking category/type (standard or premium), and the duration required.Confirm payment by clicking ‘Pay’ to deduct the fee directly from your Darb or TAMM e-wallets, or pay via a credit/debit card.You will receive an SMS notification on your registered mobile number, alerting you about your parking payment.Pay via SMSText a message to 3009 with the following format:[Plate Code/Category] [Plate Number] [Parking Type] [Duration in hours]For ‘Parking Type’, use S for standard parking and P for premium parking.Pay via MAWAQiF payment machinesOnce you have parked, head to the nearest MAWAQiF payment machine.Select your language – Arabic or English.Enter the parking zone number shown on the signage or on the machine itself. Enter your vehicle’s details, such as your licence plate number and plate code.Select the duration you would like to park.Pay using coins, cash, a debit/credit card, or a MAWAQiF rechargeable card.You will receive a confirmation of payment. Since parking is registered electronically, you do not need to display a paper ticket on your dashboard.
