RTAs Dubai Drive app provides an online service to find the exact number of parking spots available

The ‘Dubai Drive’ app by the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) provides an online service through which you can find out the exact number of spots available around a place that you select on the map and the hourly tariff for the parking location. While this service does not cover all parking spots in Dubai, it does cover some key neighbourhoods and commercial districts that are popular like Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai Internet City, Deira’s Creek area and Expo City Dubai.

Availability of parking spots can be checked as follows:

Download ‘Dubai Drive’ app

• The RTA’s ‘Dubai Drive’ app can be downloaded from the Google Play Store, Apple App Store or Huawei AppGallery.
• Select the ‘Parking’ category on the homepage
• Then click on ‘Search for Parking’.
• A map of the available parking spaces in the city will be presented and the user will have two options to choose from public parking or multistory spaces.
• The map is interactive, and specific areas have a pinned parking sign. The sign is colour-coded in red, orange and green.
• If you zoom in on the map and the pin is red, it means that the number of parking spaces is low.
• A box will appear stating the parking code, once you tap on the pin. The tariff and the percentage of the parking spot will be available.

Payment for parking on the app 

• Payment can be made through the Dubai Drive app once you arrive at the parking zone and get a parking spot. Tap on ‘Pay’ if you want to pay and the app will automatically detect your location. Entering the parking code in the search bar is an alternate option.
• The vehicle plate number has to be entered.
• You can tap on ‘Top Up’ and select the amount from anywhere between Dh10 to Dh500, and pay for it with your debit or credit card online. You can only pay for the parking on the app if you have a parking account with sufficient balance. 
• You will get a notification and SMS confirmation once the parking fee is settled.