How to pay Sharjah parking by SMS (5566)
The Sharjah Municipality short code is 5566. The format is: zone code, plate code, plate number, hours, separated by single spaces. Note that the zone code comes first - the opposite of the RTA format in Dubai. The SMS is billed to your mobile bill, so no account is needed to pay this way.
| Field | What to enter | Example |
|---|---|---|
| SMS number | 5566 (Sharjah Municipality) | Send your message to 5566 |
| Zone code | Four-digit zone from the meter | 1234 |
| Plate code | Sharjah plate category or other emirate code | 1, 2, 3... or A (Dubai), AUH5 |
| Plate number | Your vehicle number | 12345 |
| Duration | Number of hours | 1, 2, 3 |
Quick example: 1234 1 12345 1 - one hour in Sharjah zone 1234 on Sharjah plate code 1. With a Dubai plate, the same message becomes "1234 A 12345 1".
Wait for the confirmation SMS before walking away. Sharjah Municipality returns a receipt with your end time and the cost. If the format is wrong, the system replies with an error and the bay stays unpaid in inspectors' records.
Sharjah parking zone codes
Every paid Sharjah bay sits inside a numbered zone. The zone is the first field of the SMS, the input that defines the rate, the maximum stay and the paid-hours schedule for that street. The zone code is a four-digit number printed on the meter face and on the small zone sign on the nearest lamppost.
- Look at the top of the meter face for a four-digit code in a coloured band.
- Cross-check with the standalone zone sign on the nearest lamppost.
- Do not use the bay number painted on the asphalt - that is a different identifier.
- If you cannot read the meter, use the Sharjah parking app, which fills the zone from your GPS location.
Zones are sticky to a stretch of street, and a single street can change zone halfway along its length, especially around dense commercial and corniche areas. If you walk past a row of meters and the number changes, the rate has changed too, and so has the zone you should put in the SMS.
Sharjah parking rates, free hours and Saturdays
Sharjah on-street parking is split into standard residential / suburban zones and denser central / corniche zones. The rate card on the meter is the live source of truth.
| Zone type | Typical rate | Paid hours | Max stay |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | Around AED 2 / hour | 8:00 am to midnight (Saturday to Thursday) | Up to 24 hours in many zones |
| Central / corniche | Higher per-hour rate | Extended paid hours per signage | Shorter max stay |
| Free period | Free | Fridays, public holidays, and outside paid hours | Per local signage |
The single most important calendar rule in Sharjah is that Saturdays are usually paid. Visitors who cross over from Dubai often assume the Dubai "Sunday is free" rule applies in Sharjah too, then receive a fine for an unpaid Saturday session. Sharjah's standard free day is Friday, with public holidays also free.
Many Sharjah residential zones offer a daily flat rate that covers the whole charging window, which is materially cheaper for residents and longer-stay visitors than paying hour by hour. The flat rate is shown on the meter alongside the per-hour rate.
Sharjah parking app vs. SMS
The Sharjah parking app is the easier default for residents and frequent visitors. It detects the zone from your location, stores your vehicles, lets you extend an active session, and keeps a receipt history. SMS to 5566 remains the lowest-friction option for one-off payments and for drivers who do not want to install an app.
- Use the app if you are unsure of the zone or your plate category.
- Use the app to extend a session remotely.
- Use the app for receipt history and dispute evidence.
- Keep SMS as the backup when the app is slow to load.
Sharjah parking fines
The standard Sharjah Municipality fine for parking in a paid zone without a valid session is in the AED 100 to AED 150 range, with higher fines for misuse of disability bays, double parking, blocking traffic and unauthorised use of permit zones. Fines are attached to the registered plate.
Fines appear on the Sharjah Police portal and in the Sharjah parking app. They can be paid online or at municipality service centres. Outstanding parking fines are usually flagged at vehicle registration renewal. Disputes are filed within the published time window and the original confirmation SMS or app receipt is the strongest evidence.
Common Sharjah parking SMS mistakes
- Assuming Saturdays are free because they are free in Dubai - in Sharjah, Saturdays are usually paid.
- Sending the SMS to a Mawaqif (3009) or RTA (7275) short code from a Sharjah bay - neither works in Sharjah.
- Putting the plate code first instead of the zone code - the Sharjah format starts with the zone.
- Using the bay number painted on the road instead of the four-digit zone code on the meter.
- Walking away before the confirmation reply arrives - if the format is wrong, no session is started.
- Assuming mall parking and private lots follow the municipality calendar - they do not.
Using a non-Sharjah plate
Sharjah Municipality accepts non-Sharjah UAE plates in the SMS payment system. The format is identical, but you swap the plate-code field for your home-emirate category. A Dubai plate uses the Dubai category (e.g. A, B, C); an Abu Dhabi plate uses the AUH category (e.g. AUH5); an Ajman plate uses the AJM category. The zone code stays the four-digit Sharjah zone from the meter.
In the other direction, a Sharjah plate driving in another emirate must use that emirate's SMS short code - Mawaqif 3009 in Abu Dhabi, RTA 7275 in Dubai or 5919 in Ajman. The Sharjah 5566 short code only works inside Sharjah.