Ajman Parking SMS: How to Pay, What It Costs, and When Parking Is Free

To pay for public parking in Ajman by text message, send your number plate details to 5155. The Ajman Municipality and Planning Department (MPDA) lists SMS to 5155 as one of three channels for hourly parking reservations, alongside the MPDA Smart Application and the Ajman One app. You don’t need cash, a ticket, or a machine.

The system is simple, but a few details catch people out. A wrong message format means your car isn’t covered. SMS covers only short stays. Paid hours can differ by zone. This guide covers the message format, the fees, free-parking times, when to switch to the app, and how to avoid a fine.

What Is Ajman Parking SMS?

Ajman parking SMS is a pay-by-text service for public parking, run by the MPDA, the authority that oversees the public parking system in the emirate. You text your plate details and receive a confirmation message that works as your digital ticket. The payment is tied to your number plate, not to you. Rental cars, company cars, and visiting vehicles all work the same way, provided you enter the plate that is physically on the car.

Ajman is not the only emirate with this kind of service. Dubai, Sharjah, and Abu Dhabi each run their own SMS parking systems with their own numbers and message formats. Don’t reuse another emirate’s number in Ajman. If a text to the wrong number goes through, it won’t give you valid parking.

How to Pay for Parking in Ajman by SMS

Step 1: Write the message in the correct format

The format is plate source, plate category, then plate number, each separated by a space, for example AJM B 0123. Here is what each part means:

• Plate source: the emirate or country that issued the plate, written as a short code.
• Plate category: the letter or number on the plate that identifies its category. Many plates show it on the plate itself.
• Plate number: the digits on the plate.

Plate source codes follow a standard three-letter pattern across the UAE. Ajman is AJM, Dubai is DXB, Abu Dhabi is AUH, Sharjah is SHJ, Umm Al Quwain is UAQ, Ras Al Khaimah is RAK, and Fujairah is FUJ. Secondary sources say GCC-registered plates also work, with their own codes. Confirm the exact code for a foreign plate with MPDA before relying on it.

Step 2: Send it to 5155

Open your messaging app, start a new message to 5155, paste in your plate details, and send. Do this as soon as you park, because enforcement doesn’t wait for a late payment.

Step 3: Wait for the confirmation

You should get a reply confirming your parking. The confirmation SMS is your proof of reservation. If nothing arrives after a minute or two, assume you are not covered. Check the format and send again before walking away from the car.

A realistic example: you pull up outside a shop in central Ajman with a Dubai-registered car. You text your Dubai plate source code, plate category, and plate number to 5155, then wait until the confirmation arrives. Only then do you lock the car. If you had typed the plate number with one digit wrong, the confirmation would arrive but cover a different vehicle, so read the confirmation against the plate before you leave.

The One-Hour Limit and How to Extend

SMS parking is built for short stays. Paying by SMS lets you pay for only one hour at a time, so a half hour or an hour and a half requires the municipality’s app. Another source notes you can only book a parking service via SMS for an hour.

One secondary source says you can extend by replying “Y” to 5155 before your hour expires. I couldn’t confirm that on the official MPDA service page, so treat it as unverified. If your confirmation message mentions an extension option, follow the instructions in that message. Otherwise, send a fresh SMS or switch to the app.

Set a phone alarm for about ten minutes before expiry. Don’t rely on getting a reminder SMS.

How Much Does Ajman Parking Cost?

The official MPDA service page lists these fees:

Source: Ajman Digital Government, Parking Reservation Request service page.

SMS payments carry an extra charge. Operators bill additional SMS fees on top of the parking fee, which vary by operator. One secondary source puts the one-hour total at AED 2.38 for du and Etisalat customers, but this isn’t confirmed on the official page. Your mobile bill will show the actual charge. For a one-hour stay, the difference is small. If you park several times a day, the extra charge adds up.

Longer-term options also exist. MPDA says long-term parking reservations are requested by email to Parkingservices@am.gov.ae rather than by SMS. Prices for 10-, 20-, and 30-day tickets and annual cards appear on some third-party pages. I haven’t verified them, so get current figures from MPDA before budgeting.

When Is Parking Free in Ajman?

Two rules are well supported across sources: public parking is free on Fridays and public holidays. Don’t assume everything else is free, though.

A single secondary source describes the usual paid hours as Saturday to Thursday, roughly 8 am to 1 pm and 5 pm to 10 pm, with a free afternoon break. That pattern is plausible, but it isn’t confirmed on the official page, and hours can vary by zone. Ajman also has visitor, resident, and mixed-use zones. During Ramadan, hours typically shift, and the schedule can change each year.

The practical rule is to read the signboard where you park. If the sign and a blog post disagree, the sign wins.

SMS, App, or Long-Term Pass: Which Should You Use?

If you’re unsure, think about how long you’ll be there. Under an hour, SMS is the fastest way. Anything else, the app gives you more control.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Texting the wrong number: Other emirates use different SMS numbers. Ajman is 5155.
• Mixing up plate details: The plate category is the most commonly misread part, especially on plates where the category and number are close together.
• Leaving before the confirmation arrives: No confirmation means no ticket.
• Paying for the wrong vehicle: If you drive more than one car, double-check the plate before sending.
• Assuming the free time is universal: Zones differ. Read the sign.
• Forgetting about expiry: An overstay is treated as unpaid parking.
• Deleting the confirmation too soon: Keep it until you drive away in case you need to dispute a fine.

What Happens If You Don’t Pay?

Parking in a paid zone without an active ticket, or after your ticket expires, can lead to a fine. Secondary sources report amounts between about AED 150 and AED 200. I couldn’t find an amount on the official service page, so check with MPDA or the Ajman One app for the current figure and for how to pay or contest a fine. Gulf News also covers how to pay public parking fines online in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, and Ajman.

If you receive a fine and you have a valid confirmation message, keep it and follow the official dispute process through MPDA.

Frequently Asked Questions

What number do I text to pay for parking in Ajman?

Send your plate details to 5155, the number MPDA lists on its official service page for SMS parking reservations.

Can I use Ajman parking SMS with a Dubai or Sharjah number plate?

Yes, you enter your plate source code (such as DXB or SHJ) in the message. The payment is tied to the plate, not the emirate you’re parking in. Use the format: plate source, category, number.

Is parking free in Ajman on Fridays?

Yes. Public parking is free on Fridays and public holidays. Check signage in case a particular zone has different rules.

Can I pay for more than one hour by SMS?

Each SMS covers one hour. For half-hour blocks, longer stays, or multi-day parking, use the MPDA or Ajman One app, or arrange a long-term permit with MPDA.

What if I don’t receive a confirmation SMS?

Treat the parking as unpaid. Check your plate format, make sure you texted the right number, and send again. If it still doesn’t work, use the app.

Conclusion

For a quick stop in Ajman, parking by SMS is hard to beat. Text your plate source, plate category, and plate number to 5155, wait for the confirmation, and keep it until you drive away. Remember the one-hour limit, check the signboard for paid hours, and move to the app when you need more flexibility.

Before you head out, save the number and the format in your phone’s notes so you aren’t working it out on the street. For current fees, long-term passes, and fine details, check the MPDA app, because rates and hours can change.