Photo Credit: Gulf News
Motorists in Sharjah who need to make a quick stop for groceries, medicines or other short errands may not need to pay for a full hour of parking. Sharjah Municipality has clarified that a 10-minute grace period applies across public parking spaces in the emirate.
The confirmation was shared by Sharjah Municipality in a recent post on its official Instagram account, offering clarity on how the system works, when fines are issued, and how drivers can pay.
How the 10-minute grace period works
Every time a vehicle is parked in a public parking space in Sharjah, the system automatically provides a 10-minute grace period. During this window, no parking ticket is required and no violation is recorded. This allows drivers to complete short tasks without immediately paying for parking.
Each new parking session triggers a fresh grace period, even if the driver has parked elsewhere earlier the same day.
How parking violations are recorded
Public parking areas in Sharjah are monitored using digital scanning vehicles, supported by inspectors on foot. Enforcement follows a two-step process:
- A scanning vehicle records all parked vehicles in a zone.
- The same area is scanned again after 10 minutes. If no valid payment is detected, a violation is issued.
If the driver pays within the grace period, no fine is applied. The same process applies whether enforcement is carried out by a vehicle or an on-ground inspector.
Does moving your car reset the grace period?
Yes. If a driver moves their vehicle to a different parking space, the system treats it as a new parking session. Once the car is detected in a new location, a fresh 10-minute grace period is automatically applied, even if the vehicle was scanned earlier in the same zone.
Parking fine for non-payment
Drivers who remain parked beyond the 10-minute grace period without paying will receive a Dh150 fine for failing to purchase a valid parking ticket. Fines can be paid through the official Sharjah Municipality website.
Public parking zones in Sharjah
Sharjah has two types of public parking zones. While fees are the same, operating hours differ:
- Standard zones: 8am to 10pm, Saturday to Thursday
- Seven-day zones: 8am to 12 midnight, including Fridays and public holidays
Seven-day zones are marked with blue information signs.
Public parking fees
Parking charges across Sharjah are set as follows:
- Dh2 for one hour
- Dh5 for two hours
- Dh8 for three hours
- Dh12 for five hours
Ways to pay for public parking
Drivers can choose from several payment options:
- Parking metres: Available in public parking areas, accepting cash payments.
- mParking (SMS): Send an SMS to 5566 in the format:
Plate source [space] Plate number [space] Number of hours
Plate codes include SHJ (Sharjah), DXB (Dubai), AUH (Abu Dhabi), RAK, AJM, FUJ and UAQ. A service charge of 38 fils per SMS applies. - Digital Sharjah app: Pay or renew parking using a credit card or phone wallet.
- Monthly parking permit: Frequent users can apply for a monthly permit, which may offer better value in regularly used areas.
With the grace period in place, Sharjah’s parking system aims to balance convenience for drivers with efficient enforcement across the emirate.
