Drivers in Abu Dhabi will no longer reach for their phones, scan codes, or stop at machines to settle parking fees under a new automated system unveiled by Q Mobility on Monday, June 1.
Branded the ‘Free Flow Paid Parking System,’ the technology relies on artificial intelligence and automatic licence plate reading to register vehicles. A parking session opens the moment a car enters a covered zone, and the fee is tallied once the vehicle leaves, with the amount drawn straight from the motorist’s Darb app wallet.
Q Mobility described the rollout as a move away from manual handling altogether, doing away with SMS confirmations, QR codes, payment terminals, paper tickets and cash. The company said the goal is a quicker and smoother process that lifts the experience for drivers across the capital.
Motorists were urged to keep enough credit loaded in their Darb e-wallet ahead of using the service, since insufficient funds could trigger fines and disrupt the automatic deduction.
The launch covers selected sites at the start, among them multi-storey structures and certain private parking areas. Q Mobility said additional locations will be folded into the network over the months ahead.
A parallel shift is taking shape in Dubai, where coins and notes at parking meters are being retired from June 1 under the emirate’s Cashless Strategy 2026. Nol cards, familiar to commuters on the public transport system, remain a valid option, though authorities are steering drivers toward the Parkin mobile app instead.
According to Parkin, the app lets users pay, extend a session from a distance, review past transactions and get alerts before time runs out. Drivers in Dubai can also continue settling fees through the Dubai Now and RTA platforms.
