What You Need to Know About Dubai's 2025 Smart Parking System

Dubai takes new steps toward smart urban mobility, achieving a new milestone with the launch of its Smart Parking System at the beginning of 2025. Despite a pilot program launched in 2023 at the Dubai Mall, the Dubai Road Transport and Authority (RTA) partners with Parkin PJSC and Parkonic to deliver advanced, tech-assisted, and streamlined parking throughout the emirate. So, how does it leverage its cutting-edge features to reduce congestion and enhance user experience? This article explores everything you need to know about Dubai’s 2025 Smart Parking System, from its AI-driven features to its next phase, and some practical tips to navigate the new system. Let’s dive in.

Everything you need to know about Dubai’s Smart Parking System:

• Barrierless and Ticketless Parking with ANPR

• Real-Time Parking Availability

• Dynamic Congestion Pricing

• Practical Payment Options

• AI-Powered Enforcement

• Full Smart Coverage by 2026

• Autonomous Vehicle Integration

• Shared Mobility Features

• Next-Gen AI and IoT

Cutting-Edge Features Launched in 2025

The new Dubai Parking System saw several intricate enhancements to reach the current stage, where parking is streamlined with automated ticketing and seamless payments. Let’s take a look at some of the outstanding & cutting-edge features.

1. Barrierless and Ticketless Parking with ANPR

Dubai’s 2025 Smart Parking System uses Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) with sensors and cameras to detect vehicles and register parking sessions automatically. This eliminates physical tickets or barriers (integral to previous parking systems), enabling seamless entry and exit.

Dubai RTA implements this service at several major locations, such as Dubai Mall, Mall of the Emirates, City Centre Deira, City Centre Mirdif, and UnionCoop stores, with active expansion ongoing to other RTA-designated parking lots.

Example: At Dubai Mall, parking fees are automatically deducted via Salik accounts, with alternative payment options like QR codes, SMS, kiosks, mobile apps, or Tap&Go.

2. Real-Time Parking Availability

The new Dubai Parking System incorporates enhanced sensors—both ground and overhead—continuously monitoring the parking occupancy and relaying the real-time data on electronic VMS (Variable Message Signs) and mobile apps, like the RTA app, Parkonic. 

Around 3,035 RTA-approved parking slots in Dubai’s prominent areas like Al Rigga and Sheikh Zayed Road (E11) utilize approximately 2,030 ground sensors and 70 overhead cameras. With real-time parking data, Dubai’s modern parking systems reduce search time (for drivers) by 20-30%. It typically saves about 8 minutes per parking session and cuts carbon emissions by 239 tons annually. Furthermore, these parking systems seamlessly integrate with Dubai’s latest AI-powered traffic management to optimize parking space utilization.

3. Dynamic Congestion Pricing

The new Dubai Parking System implements dynamic pricing calculators in high-traffic areas, like Downtown Dubai, Business Bay, and Deira, aiming to reduce parking congestion, especially during peak hours. The idea behind the dynamic congestion pricing is to discourage prolonged parking and allow the smooth flow of traffic.

• Premium Parking Zones: These zones are within 500 meters of metro stations or high-demand areas, like business hubs & tourist attractions.

• Pricing Structures:

• Peak hours (8:00 AM–10:00 AM, 4:00 PM–8:00 PM): AED 6/hour.

• Off-peak hours: AED 4/hour.

• Standard Parking Zones: AED 4/hour throughout the day.

• Event-based pricing: Up to AED 25/hour near venues like Dubai World Trade Centre during major events.

• Multi-storey parking: rates increased from AED 3 to AED 5 per hour.

4. Practical Payment Options

The new Parking system enhances payment methods, simplifying payment and adding security to parking transactions. With the new incorporations, you can make parking payments via your preferred methods, including:

• Mobile Apps: RTA’s mParking and Parkonic apps allow users to check availability, reserve spots, pay, and extend sessions. The Parkonic app requires a wallet balance for automatic deductions.

• SMS Parking: Send a message to 7275 in the format: [Plate Number] [Zone Code] [Hours]. E.g., “A12345 112B 2” for 2 hours in zone 112B. Non-Dubai plates include emirate codes (e.g., SHJ for Sharjah).

• Other Methods: Traditional options like coins at parking machines and credit/debit cards are still accepted. Additionally, eParking cards, Salik-linked accounts (for automatic deductions in ANPR-enabled areas like Dubai Mall), and Nol cards (tapped at designated parking meters) provide further cashless convenience. A new PayLater feature, primarily through the Parkin app, offers a 48-hour grace period for settling payments after exiting multi-storey car parks..

• Seasonal parking cards: Purchase seasonal parking cards at AED 1,400 (3 months), AED 2,500 (6 months), AED 4,500 (1 year) for roadside; AED 700, AED 1,300, AED 2,500 for parking lots.

5. AI-Powered Enforcement

The Dubai RTA uses 18 screening vehicles equipped with 24 AI-powered cameras to monitor 140,000 paid parking slots (about 70% of the total). RTA implemented this mechanism from the end of 2023. These vehicles scan plates at speeds over 80 km/h with 99% accuracy, automating violation detection.

These AI-powered enforcements automate the vehicle inspections for fines and parking violations. The automated parking systems impose fines under several conditions, such as:

• AED 150 for expired tickets

• AED 300 for incorrect zone parking

• up to AED 1,000 for parking in prohibited areas (e.g., fire hydrants, disabled spaces).

What’s on the Horizon

In 2025, the Dubai RTA achieved significant milestones in its journey to become a global leader in smart urban mobility. However, to truly solidify its position at the forefront of the modernized-automotive scene, several innovative aspects are still on the horizon, including:

1. Full Smart Coverage by 2026

Dubai RTA plans to extend its Smart Parking project to every slot in the emirate. By the end of 2026, we can anticipate the complete implementation of smart parking at all of its 190,000 paid slots. This will certainly be a norm for all public and private parking in the emirate.

2. Autonomous Vehicle Integration

Beyond 2026, Dubai and other Emirates will move on to self-parking cars with autonomous features, including taxi services. This approach will lead to a better and more seamless traffic flow and parking, as the interconnected systems relay live updates of traffic flows and parking availability. It aligns beautifully with Dubai’s 2040 Urban Master Plan.

3. Shared Mobility Features

There is a massive possibility that Dubai will use autonomous ride-sharing services, featuring EVs (for Uber & Careem) in the near future. These parking systems can prioritize sustainable green mobility with lenient parking charges to promote shared mobility instead of personal ownership.

4. Next-Gen AI and IoT

Looking ahead, the Dubai Smart Parking System is set to leverage the extensive use of Narrowband IoT (NB-IoT) sensors for even smarter slot management. This will be powered by predictive AI, capable of accurately forecasting parking demand and dynamically adjusting pricing in real-time, ultimately ensuring a truly seamless parking experience across the Emirates.

Why These Changes Matter to You

2025 Smart Parking System doesn’t only have a positive impact on the personal level, but also on the general community & environmental level. The modern parking system features help you (drivers) & Dubai’s plan for the net-zero 2050 goal, with:

• Faster Parking: Real-time updates via apps reduce parking search by 8 minutes per session. It simplifies and streamlines parking in the city, especially in more crowded areas.

• Eco-Friendly Impact: Less circling cuts 239 tons of CO2 annually. EVs will probably get 1 free hour in Gold zones, encouraging green mobility in the future.

• Flexible Payments: You can make payments via several mobile apps, SMS, Salik, Nol cards, or the new PayLater option (48-hour payment grace period).

• Smarter Compliance: AI enforcement ensures accuracy, but apps and signage help you stay compliant.

Tips to Navigate the New System

Having understood the enhanced 2025 Smart Parking System features, possible upgrades soon, and their benefits and contribution to Dubai’s plan to establish itself as a global leader in urban mobility, let’s check out some insightful tips to navigate this system. Consider the following for a seamless understanding:

• Download RTA or Parkonic apps for instant slot info and payments.

• Use SMS parking (e.g., “A12345 112B 2” to 7275) for quick, app-free payments.

• Register your electric vehicle for free parking perks.

• Check VMS or apps for premium zone rates to plan cost-effective trips.

Conclusion

Dubai continuously moves forward, incorporating the latest technologies and innovations in its urban mobility, and the introduction of the new Smart Parking System is a massive push to its ultimate goal of becoming a global leader in the coming days. The perfect synchronization of green mobility initiatives and smart parking systems goes hand in hand to meet the Emirate’s 2050 goal of net-zero carbon emissions. This AI-powered parking system not only simplifies urban parking and mobility but also seamlessly complements the future of mobility in the Emirates, where autonomous vehicles dominate the roads. It’s just the beginning of greater things for the emirate of Dubai.