Living in Dubai means dealing with parking, traffic fines, Nol cards, and the endless list of RTA errands. But what if you could sort all that out without leaving your WhatsApp chat? Thanks to RTA’s handy chatbot “Mahboub” (+971 58 800 9090), now you can. No queues, no extra apps. Just quick replies, right where you’re already texting. Keep reading to find out all the RTA services you can access over WhatsApp in Dubai!
Also read: The Ultimate Dubai Public Transportation Hacks Tourists Need To Know To Save Money
RTA Services Available On WhatsApp
1. Park & Pay – Start or Extend Parking
Need to park somewhere in the city? Instead of hunting for a parking meter or scrambling for coins, just send a message on WhatsApp to Mahboub. You can start a parking session or extend one if time’s running out. Send the license plate number + zone code + number of hours (e.g. A00000 000A 2) to Mahboub. He (the bot) confirms the payment. All done via WhatsApp.
2. Check & Pay Parking Fines / Get Ticket Details
Got a parking ticket? Want to see what the fine is before paying? Mahboub can pull up your ticket details, tell you how much you owe, and help you pay. All in WhatsApp. You don’t have to log into a separate site or hunt for your ticket at the parking authority’s office. It’s right there in your chat.
3. Traffic Fines – View & Pay
Same idea as parking fines, but for traffic-related violations (speeding, red-light cameras, etc.). Use your vehicle plate number, or license number, or fine number → get the details → pay via card. All through Mahboub.
4. Book Or Reschedule Driving Tests / Appointments
If you need to book a driving test (or re-book because something came up), you can do it via WhatsApp. Also useful for other RTA appointments (the ones you’d normally make on their site or at their customer centres). The bot gives you times, fees, what documents you’ll need, etc.
5. Report Road, Sidewalk or Transport Infrastructure Problems — “Madinati” Reports
See something broken, dangerous, or just annoying, like a pothole, a fallen traffic sign, a damaged sidewalk, bus shelter that’s falling apart, dim lights, etc.? You can report it via WhatsApp to RTA’s “Madinati” system. You can even send photos. This helps keep the city clean, safe and functional. And because you can send pictures, RTA gets the full picture (literally).
6. NOL Card Top-ups & Related Enquiries
Your Nol card is what you use for public transport (metro, bus, tram, etc.). Running low? You can start the top-up process via WhatsApp. You may also get help with other Nol-card questions (balances, tag/card IDs, etc.). Sometimes you need to tap or scan or pass through a reader after topping up to activate the new balance — but the WhatsApp bot tells you exactly what to do.
7. General Information & Support Has Never Been Easier
Mahboub isn’t just for transactions. Want to know where the nearest RTA Customer Happiness Centre is? Need business hours, fees, required documents, or procedures? Curious about public transport routes, licence renewal, etc.? Mahboub’s there with answers. Since it’s WhatsApp, you can chat in your own time, take screenshots, even double-check things later. It’s like having a helpful friend who knows everything about RTA.
A Few Tips To Make It Work Smoothly
- Save the RTA / Mahboub contact +971 58 800 9090 in your phone, so you don’t try messaging the wrong number.
- Make sure you have the correct format for messages (e.g. licence plate + zone + hours) when parking or similar – Mahboub often prompts you if something’s off.
- When reporting something with a photo (Madinati), try to take a clear picture that shows the problem + surroundings, so RTA understands what they’re dealing with.
- For payments, keep a valid card ready. Security is built in, but as with all digital payments, double-check amounts.
