This Abu Dhabi Tourist Paid For Parking But Still Got Hit With An AED650 Fine; Here’s Why!

An Abu Dhabi tourist recently discovered something many drivers in the city learn the stressful way: paying for parking does not always mean you’re fully safe from a Mawaqif fine. The situation started after a first-time visitor parked in a standard black-and-blue parking bay, paid the parking fee and assumed everything was sorted for the night.

A Tourist Thought They Parked Correctly In Abu Dhabi Until An AED650 Fine Arrived

At around 1:29 AM, the driver received an AED650 fine notification and immediately headed online, trying to figure out what exactly went wrong. And honestly, the confusion makes sense because Abu Dhabi parking rules can get very specific at night.

The Problem Wasn’t The Parking Payment Itself

At first, people online started guessing everything. Some thought the car may have blocked an emergency area. Others guessed loading zones, restricted access or parking outside marked spaces. A few Reddit users even asked whether parking payment had been made at all.

But later, the actual issue became clearer. The driver had unknowingly parked inside a residential parking zone during restricted hours. Which is where Abu Dhabi’s hidden curb rule enters the story.

The Turquoise Line In Abu Dhabi Changes Everything At Night

In Abu Dhabi, black-and-blue curbs usually mean standard paid parking.

White-and-blue areas are premium parking zones. But some standard parking spaces also include a turquoise line painted along the outer edge of the parking bay. And that small detail changes the rules completely during certain hours.

From 9 PM until 8 AM, those spaces become resident-only parking zones. So even if somebody pays for parking normally, non-residents still cannot leave vehicles there overnight without the correct permit. That’s reportedly what happened in this case.

And yes, people online were shocked because many visitors genuinely do not notice the turquoise marking at all.

Also Read: New Public Paid Parking Zones Rolled Out In Abu Dhabi’s Wasl Green Park; Details Inside

Some Drivers Said Their Cars Were Towed Too

The discussion quickly turned into a full parking survival guide from long-time Abu Dhabi residents.

Several users shared stories about accidentally parking in resident zones when they first moved to the city. Some even said their vehicles were towed and impounded after similar mistakes. For many newcomers, the biggest issue is that the colour coding feels easy during the daytime but becomes harder to spot late at night. Especially for visitors unfamiliar with Mawaqif rules.

That said, regular Abu Dhabi drivers insist the safest thing to do is always double-check nearby signboards or verify the parking zone through the TAMM app before leaving the car.

Cover Image Courtesy: Mawafiq/X