Let’s be honest: absolutely nobody enjoys getting a parking fine. Whether you live in Ajman, commute there for work, or are just visiting for a weekend escape by the Corniche, finding a good parking spot is a relief. But once you finally squeeze your car into that space, the last thing you want to do is empty your wallet looking for exact change or wander down the street in the summer heat trying to find a working parking meter.
The good news? You don’t have to.
Ajman’s SMS parking system is a total lifesaver. You can pay for your parking without ever stepping out of your air-conditioned car. But if you’ve never used it before—or if you’re visiting from another emirate like Dubai or Abu Dhabi—the system can feel a little confusing at first. Send the wrong text format, and your payment won’t go through, leaving you wide open to a municipality fine.
I’ve put together this straightforward, no-nonsense guide to show you exactly how to use the Ajman parking SMS service. We’ll cover the exact text format, the hidden telecom fees you need to watch out for, the official timings, and a few insider tips so you never get caught out.
How the Ajman SMS Parking System Actually Works?
The concept is simple. Instead of dropping coins into a machine and putting a paper ticket on your dashboard, you send a quick text message to the Ajman Municipality. In return, they send you a virtual ticket tied to your license plate.
When the parking inspectors walk by, they scan your plate with a handheld device. Their system instantly tells them you’ve paid. It’s entirely paperless.
Why should you use it?
- You save time: Pay in seconds before you even turn off your engine.
- No cash needed: You never have to worry about carrying one-dirham coins.
- Extend on the go: If your lunch or meeting runs late, you can add more time directly from your phone. You don’t have to sprint back to your car.
The Exact SMS Format (Don’t Make This Mistake)
This is where most people mess up. Automated systems are incredibly picky. If you miss a space or put a letter in the wrong place, the system won’t understand your text, the transaction will fail, and you’ll be parked illegally.
The official number you need to text is 5155.
Here is the exact format you have to use. Memorize the spaces!
[Plate Source] [Space] [Plate Category] [Space] [Plate Number]
Real-World Examples to Make It Clear
Let’s say you live in Ajman and your car has an Ajman license plate. The category is “B” and your plate number is “12345”. You will open your text messages, type this exactly, and send it to 5155:AJM B 12345
But what if you drove in from Dubai? If you have a Dubai plate, category “A”, number “67890”, you format it like this:DXB A 67890
The Emirate Abbreviations Code List
If your car isn’t registered in Ajman, you have to tell the system where it’s from by using a three-letter code. Here is the cheat sheet you need:
| Where is your car registered? | The 3-Letter Code to Use | Example Text to 5155 |
| Ajman | AJM | AJM C 12345 |
| Dubai | DXB | DXB H 98765 |
| Sharjah | SHJ | SHJ 1 45678 |
| Abu Dhabi | AUH | AUH 5 11223 |
| Ras Al Khaimah | RAK | RAK N 55667 |
| Umm Al Quwain | UAQ | UAQ D 88990 |
| Fujairah | FUJ | FUJ G 33445 |
The Golden Rule: Wait for the Text Back
Don’t lock your car and walk away the second you hit “send.” Network delays happen all the time. Wait about ten seconds until you get a reply text from 5155. This message is your official receipt—it will confirm that your payment went through and tell you exactly what time your ticket expires. Keep this text on your phone until you leave.
How Much Does It Cost? (Watch Out for Telecom Fees)
Parking in Ajman is very affordable, but paying via your phone comes with a slight catch that catches a lot of prepaid users off guard.
The Base Parking Rates
If you were paying with coins at a machine, the municipality charges:
- Half an Hour (30 mins): AED 1
- One Hour (60 mins): AED 2
Note: When you use the standard SMS format to 5155, the system automatically buys you a 1-hour ticket.
The Sneaky Telecom Surcharge
You aren’t just paying the Ajman Municipality; you are also using Etisalat, Du, or Virgin Mobile to send a premium text message. The telecom companies charge a service fee of about 38 fils (AED 0.38) per transaction, which includes VAT.
If you are a prepaid user and you have exactly AED 2.00 on your phone balance, your parking text will fail. You need enough credit to cover the parking fee plus the telecom charge.
Here is what it actually costs you out of pocket:
| Time Parked | Municipality Fee | Telecom Fee | Total Deducted |
| 1 Hour | AED 2.00 | ~ AED 0.38 | AED 2.38 |
| 2 Hours | AED 4.00 | ~ AED 0.38 | AED 4.38 |
| 3 Hours | AED 6.00 | ~ AED 0.38 | AED 6.38 |
- If you use Prepaid: The AED 2.38 comes straight out of your available credit right then and there.
- If you use Postpaid: The charges simply pile up and get added to your monthly phone bill under a section usually called “Value Added Services.”
Ajman Parking Timings: When Do You Actually Have to Pay?
Nobody wants to pay for parking if they don’t have to. Ajman operates on a split-shift timing system, which actually gives you a free window in the middle of the day.
The Daily Schedule
For most public parking zones in the emirate, you only have to pay during these two blocks of time:
- Morning Shift: 8:00 AM to 1:00 PM
- Evening Shift: 5:00 PM to 10:00 PM
That means between 1:00 PM and 5:00 PM, parking is free. You can run to the typing center, grab lunch, or visit a friend without sending an SMS.
A quick warning: While this is the general rule across Ajman, some highly congested commercial areas might have different rules. Make it a habit to quickly glance at the blue and orange parking sign on the sidewalk just to be safe.
| Day of the Week | Do I need to pay? | Paid Operating Hours |
| Monday | Yes | 8 AM – 1 PM & 5 PM – 10 PM |
| Tuesday | Yes | 8 AM – 1 PM & 5 PM – 10 PM |
| Wednesday | Yes | 8 AM – 1 PM & 5 PM – 10 PM |
| Thursday | Yes | 8 AM – 1 PM & 5 PM – 10 PM |
| Friday | NO (It’s Free!) | Free All Day |
| Saturday | Yes | 8 AM – 1 PM & 5 PM – 10 PM |
| Sunday | Yes | 8 AM – 1 PM & 5 PM – 10 PM |
Free Parking Days
Fridays are a breeze in Ajman—public parking is 100% free all day long.
The municipality also usually declares free parking during major public holidays like Eid Al Fitr, Eid Al Adha, and UAE National Day. They usually announce this on their official Instagram and Twitter accounts a day or two before the holiday starts.
How to Add More Time Without Going Back to Your Car
This is easily the best feature of the whole system. Imagine you’re in a doctor’s waiting room, and your appointment is running an hour late. Your parking is about to expire. In the old days, you’d have to leave, run to the meter, put coins in, and run back.
With SMS parking, the system watches your back. About 10 minutes before your time is up, 5155 will send you a warning text: “Your parking is about to expire.”
To buy yourself another hour, you don’t even need to type out your license plate again. Just reply to that text with the letter “Y”.
The system will deduct another AED 2.38 and shoot you back a confirmation that you are good for another hour. It’s incredibly easy.
4 Costly Mistakes People Make
Even regular users get tripped up sometimes. Keep these in mind so you don’t end up funding the municipality’s fine department:
- Typing too fast:
DXBA67890won’t work.DXB A 67890(with a double space) won’t work. It has to be single spaces. - Forgetting the telecom fee: We mentioned this earlier, but it’s the #1 reason transactions fail. Always keep at least AED 5 in your prepaid balance.
- Assuming you know the zone rules: Just because the street you parked on yesterday had a mid-day free break doesn’t mean the one you parked on today does. Check the street signs.
- Rental cars: If you are driving a rental, check the registration card in the glovebox to see which emirate the car is actually registered in. A lot of rentals driven in Ajman actually have Dubai or Abu Dhabi plates. If you text “AJM” for a Dubai rental car, you will get fined.
What Happens if You Don’t Pay? (The Fines)
The municipality doesn’t mess around with enforcement. They have inspectors walking the streets, and they also use cars with roof-mounted cameras that drive around automatically scanning license plates to see who hasn’t paid.
- Didn’t pay for parking at all: AED 150 fine.
- Your time expired and you didn’t extend it: AED 100 fine.
- Parking in a disabled spot without a permit: A massive AED 1,000 fine.
If you think you might have been caught, you can check your plate number on the Ajman Municipality website or the official MOI (Ministry of Interior) app.
What if You Don’t Have Phone Signal?
Phones die. Networks go down. If you can’t get an SMS to go through, you aren’t off the hook for paying. You have a couple of backup options:
- Go old school: You can still use the physical coin machines located on the sidewalks.
- Use the MPark App: If you have Wi-Fi but no cellular credit, download the Ajman MPark app. You can load a digital wallet with your debit card and pay for parking right through the app. Bonus: Paying through the app skips the 38-fil telecom surcharge!
Let’s Wrap It Up
Dealing with parking doesn’t have to be a headache. The Ajman SMS system via 5155 is fast, reliable, and keeps you out of the sun. Just remember your spaces—[Emirate] [Category] [Number]—keep an eye on your prepaid balance, and enjoy the free parking on Fridays.
Do yourself a massive favor right now: open your phone’s contacts, create a new contact called “Ajman Parking”, and save the number 5155. Next time you park, you’ll be ready to go in seconds.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. What is the number I need to text for Ajman parking?
The official number for all telecom providers (Etisalat, Du, Virgin) is 5155.
2. Is parking in Ajman free on Fridays?
Yes! Public parking across Ajman is completely free all day on Fridays. Standard paid hours kick back in on Saturday morning.
3. I have a Dubai plate. Can I still use the Ajman SMS service?
Absolutely. Just use “DXB” at the start of your message. The format is: DXB [Space] [Category] [Space] [Plate Number]. Send it to 5155.
4. How do I add more time to my parking?
The system will send you a text 10 minutes before your ticket expires. Just reply to that exact message with the letter Y and it will automatically charge you for one more hour.
5. Why did I get a message saying my transaction failed?
It’s almost always one of two things: you messed up the spacing in your text message, or you don’t have enough prepaid credit to cover the AED 2 fee plus the 38-fil telecom network charge.
6. Do I pay extra to use the SMS service?
Yes. While the municipality takes AED 2 for the hour of parking, your phone company (like Etisalat or Du) will charge an SMS service fee of around 38 fils. So, one hour actually costs about AED 2.38.
7. Do I have to pay for parking in the middle of the day?
Usually, no. In most zones, parking is free between 1:00 PM and 5:00 PM. However, you should always check the physical parking signs on the street to make sure you aren’t in a special all-day paid zone.
8. Can I buy just 30 minutes of parking via SMS?
No, the SMS system automatically defaults to a 1-hour ticket (AED 2). If you only need 30 minutes, it’s cheaper to put a 1-dirham coin into the physical street meter or use the Ajman MPark app.
9. How do I check if I got a parking fine in Ajman?
You can look up fines using your license plate number on the official Ajman Municipality website, their smart app, or the UAE Ministry of Interior (MOI) app.
10. Do I need to leave a paper receipt on my dashboard?
Nope. The whole point of the SMS system is that it’s digital. When the inspector scans your license plate, their tablet will show that you have an active virtual ticket.
