Sharjah Parking SMS - Comprehensive Guide

What is Sharjah Parking SMS?

Sharjah parking SMS (officially called smsParking) is a service from Sharjah Municipality that lets you pay for public street parking from your mobile phone. Instead of buying a paper ticket from a machine, you text your car details to 5566. The system creates a virtual permit linked to your number plate, and inspectors check it on handheld devices. This way, there is nothing to print or leave on your dashboard.

For post-paid mobile users, the cost is added to your phone bill. For prepaid users, it is taken from your balance, which means you must have enough credit or the permit will not be issued. You receive a confirmation message within about 60 seconds, plus a reminder 10 minutes before your time runs out.

Sharjah Parking SMS Number: Is it 5566 or 5155?

The correct Sharjah parking SMS number is 5566. Many people search for “Sharjah parking SMS 5155”, but 5155 is not the official parking number — it is a common misspelling. If you text the wrong number, your parking will not be paid, and you risk a fine. Always send to 5566, and treat only the reply you get from 5566 as valid proof.

Tip: Save 5566 in your phone contacts as “Sharjah Parking SMS” so you never type the wrong number in a hurry.

What is the Sharjah Parking SMS Format?

The Sharjah parking format is simple. Send one message to 5566 in this order:

Plate source Plate number Hours

Real example: If your Sharjah-registered car has plate number 12345 and you want to park for 1 hour, send SHJ 12345 1 to 5566.

Want the reply in Arabic? Add the letter A at the start. For example: A SHJ 12345 1.

Sharjah Parking SMS Code for Each Emirate

Use the right plate source code for the emirate where your car is registered:

Emirate	Code	Example SMS to 5566
Sharjah	SHJ	SHJ 12345 1
Dubai	DXB	DXB 12345 1
Abu Dhabi	AUH	AUH 12345 1
Ajman	AJM	AJM 12345 1
Ras Al Khaimah	RAK	RAK 12345 1
Fujairah	FUJ	FUJ 12345 1
Umm Al Quwain	UAQ	UAQ 12345 1

Important: Private UAE plates can use the service without registering. If you have a non-private plate (taxi, company, commercial) or a GCC-country plate, you must register first on the Sharjah Municipality website before texting.

How to Pay for Parking in Sharjah by SMS (Step by Step)?

• Step1- Park your car in a paid zone. Check the signboard for the timings and the maximum hours allowed.
• Step2- Note your plate source code and number (for example, SHJ 12345).
• Step3- Open your messaging app and type the format: plate code, space, plate number, space, hours. Example: SHJ 12345 2.
• Step4- Send it to 5566. Add an “A” at the front if you want the reply in Arabic.
• Step5- Wait for the confirmation SMS. Do not delete it — this is your virtual permit and proof of payment.
• Step6- Extend if needed. When you get the 10-minute reminder, reply ‘Y’ to 5566 to add another hour.

Pro tip: If you do not get a confirmation within about 3 minutes, resend your message or use the Mawqef app. No confirmation means your parking is not active.

How Much Does Sharjah SMS Parking Cost?

You pay the normal parking price plus a small SMS transaction fee of 38 fils per message. So a one-hour ticket that costs AED 2 at the machine costs AED 2.38 by SMS.

Duration	Machine price	Total via SMS (incl. 38 fils fee)
1 hour	AED 2	AED 2.38
2 hours	AED 5	AED 5.38
3 hours	AED 8	AED 8.38
5 hours	AED 12	AED 12.38
1-month permit (2 zones)	—	AED 166

Note: Blue (premium) zones can charge a higher hourly rate than standard zones. The 38 fils SMS fee is charged on every message you send to 5566, including extensions.

What are the Sharjah Parking Times?

Sharjah parking time depends on the type of zone. There are two main types, and the difference is the most common reason people get fined.

Zone type	Paid hours	Fridays & public holidays
Standard zones	8 am – 10 pm (Sat–Thu)	Usually free
Blue/seven-day zones (blue signs)	8 am – 12 midnight, every day	Still paid

How to tell them apart: Blue zones have blue information signs and blue-and-white curb markings. Standard zones do not. When in doubt, read the signboard on the exact street where you parked. Keep in mind that local signs always override general rules.

Free overnight: In standard zones, parking is generally free between 10 pm and 8 am.

How Do I Extend or Manage My Parking?

1. Extend by one hour: Reply ‘Y’ to 5566 before your current session ends. You must send it before the time expires.
2. Reminder: You get an automatic SMS 10 minutes before your permit runs out.
3. Maximum stay: You can buy up to 5 hours at a time in standard zones. Blue zones can have a shorter maximum (often around 4 hours), so check the sign.
4. Help: Send the word help to 5566 or call the Sharjah Municipality call centre on 993.

SMS vs Mawqef App: Which Should You Use?

Sharjah now has an official app called Mawqef (often misspelt as Mawaqif), launched by Sharjah Municipality. It can do everything SMS does and more, including checking and paying fines. Here is how the two compare.

Feature	SMS to 5566	Mawqef app
Setup needed	None for private UAE plates	Download + UAE PASS login
Pay for parking	Yes	Yes
Extend session	Reply Y	In-app, with reminders
See live free spaces	No	Yes (interactive map)
Buy subscriptions	No	Yes
Check & pay fines	No	Yes
Best for	Quick, occasional parking	Regular drivers & subscriptions

Can I Buy a Sharjah Parking Subscription Instead?

Yes. If you park in paid zones every day, a subscription is usually cheaper than paying by SMS each time. Sharjah Municipality offers a one-month personal permit for AED 166 that covers two zones of your choice, renewable monthly. There are also 10, 20, and 30-day options, and longer 3, 6 and 12-month plans that cover all city zones (around 70,000 spaces).

What Happens If I Don't Pay? (Fines & Disputes)

If you park in a paid zone without an active permit, inspectors can issue a violation. There is a confirmed 10-minute grace period for a newly parked car before a fine applies. A standard “no valid ticket” fine is around AED 150. Serious violations can cost higher.

How to Check and Pay a Sharjah Parking Fine

• Online: Use the Sharjah Municipality portal (portal.shjmun.gov.ae). Open the pay-fines service, enter your plate or fine number, and pay by card.
• App: Use Mawqef to check and pay fines.
• Other emirates' plates: Fines may also appear on the Emirates Vehicle Gate (EVG) platform.
• In person: Visit a Sharjah Municipality Happiness Centre or the Public Parking Department with your Emirates ID and Mulkiya.

Wrongly fined while you had a valid SMS permit? Sharjah Municipality says it will cancel a fine issued by mistake if your car was logged in the system for a valid session. Raise a dispute by calling or visiting the call centre on 993.

Remember: Sharjah Municipality parking fines are separate from Sharjah Police traffic fines.

Fines Associated with Sharjah SMS Parking

The table below lists all the fines related to the parking service in Sharjah —

Booked Parking Spot Without a Driving Licence

Type of Violation	Fine
Misuse of Equipment in Parking Facility	AED 500
Booked Parking Spot Without a Driving Licence	AED 1,000
Parked in Reserved Spots for the People of Determination	AED 1,000
Parking Ticket Not Purchased or Displayed	AED 150
Exceeding Parking Time	AED 100

enefits of Using SMS Parking in Sharjah -

We will first explore the major benefits of using the Sharjah SMS parking facility —

• Get On-time Notifications — You will get a reminder 10 minutes before your parking time ends. This way, you can extend your parking or drive off your car and avoid an unexpected fine.
• Convenient Payment — With SMS parking in Sharjah, you can pay for the parking ticket using your phone. This reduces the hassle of finding coins or using cards.
• Instant Confirmation — Once you send an SMS for Sharjah Parking, you will get an instant confirmation notification as your virtual permit.
• Extend Parking from Anywhere — You can simply extend your parking time in Sharjah by sending an SMS — from wherever you are

Latest Sharjah Parking Updates (2025–2026)

1. Unified format (3 March 2025): The system is now unified across the emirate. Khor Fakkan no longer needs the “KH” code. You can simply use SHJ everywhere.
2. Mawqef app launched: Sharjah Municipality released the official Mawqef app (UAE PASS login) to pay parking, manage subscriptions, and settle fines.
3. Smart parking yards: Smart paid parking opened in Al Khan and Al Nad, adding 392 sensor-guided spaces.
4. Extended blue-zone hours: Seven-day/blue zones in busy commercial areas now run to midnight (previously 10 pm).
5. New paid areas: Al Dhaid and Kalba City moved to paid parking (8 am–10 pm, Sat–Thu, free on Fridays).
6. Ramadan 2026: Sharjah Municipality announced extended evening hours and one hour of free parking near mosques after each call to prayer.

Official Sources & Contacts

1. Sharjah Municipality – Parking Services: ppd.shjmun.gov.ae
2. How it Works (SMS guide): ppd.shjmun.gov.ae/howitworks
3. FAQ: ppd.shjmun.gov.ae/faq
4. New user registration: Register here
5. Mawqef app: available on the Apple App Store and Google Play (search “Mawqef Sharjah”).
6. SMS number: 5566 | Help: text “help” to 5566 | Call centre: 993

Related Links -

How to Pay for Parking in Abu Dhabi Through SMS?

How to Pay for Parking in Dubai Through SMS?

Guide to Car Parking in Sharjah

How to Renew Car/Vehicle Registration in Sharjah

Abu Dhabi Airport Car Parking

Ajman Parking SMS

Frequently Asked Questions