If you drive in and out of Abu Dhabi island, the Darb toll system affects your monthly budget — and the rules changed in 2025 and again in 2026. This guide explains the AED rate per crossing, the peak hours when charges apply, the new gates that run around the clock, how to register and top up, and the fines you face for unpaid tolls.
How Darb works
Darb is Abu Dhabi’s automatic toll system, run by the Integrated Transport Centre (Abu Dhabi Mobility), which publishes the current Darb fee schedule. Overhead gantries read your number plate as you pass — there is no barrier and no cash booth. Each crossing is deducted from a prepaid Darb account linked to your vehicle. The original four gates sit on the bridges connecting Abu Dhabi island to the mainland: Sheikh Zayed, Al Maqta, Mussafah and Sheikh Khalifa.
Rate, peak hours and free days
The charge is a flat AED 4 per crossing. On the four original bridge gates, you are only charged during peak hours:
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Rate per crossing | AED 4 |
| Morning peak | 7:00 AM – 9:00 AM |
| Evening peak | 3:00 PM – 7:00 PM |
| Charging days | Monday to Saturday |
| Free | Off-peak hours, all day Sunday, and public holidays |
Cross outside those windows — or on a Sunday or holiday — and the bridge gates cost you nothing.
The daily cap has been removed
This is the big change many drivers miss. Until 31 August 2025 there was a daily cap of AED 16 and monthly caps per vehicle. The Integrated Transport Centre announced amendments to the Road Toll Executive Regulations taking effect on Monday 1 September 2025, revising the evening charging period to 3pm–7pm while the morning period stayed at 7am–9am, Monday through Saturday. From 1 September 2025 those caps were abolished for private vehicles. In 2026 there is no daily or monthly ceiling: you pay AED 4 for every chargeable crossing, however many you make. Heavy commuters who once relied on the AED 16 cap now pay per trip, so it is worth counting your daily crossings.
The two new 24/7 gates
On 4 May 2026, two additional Darb gates went live and they behave differently from the bridge gates:
- Ghantoot — on Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid Street, near the Abu Dhabi–Dubai border.
- Al Qurm — on Wahat Al Karama Street at the Sheikh Zayed Street entry/exit.
The Integrated Transport Centre confirmed the two gates would commence operations on 4 May 2026 and operate 24/7, implemented with Q-Mobility. Unlike the original gates, these two operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Every crossing is charged AED 4 regardless of the time or day — there are no free off-peak hours at these locations, so factor them in if your route uses either road.
Registration and top-up
You must register your vehicle with Darb after your first crossing — drivers have 10 working days to register before fines begin. Registration and account management are handled through the Darb (ITC / Abu Dhabi Mobility) website and app. Your account works on prepaid credit, so keep a balance loaded. You can top up via:
- The Darb app or website (credit/debit card)
- Partner mobile-banking apps such as ADIB
- Darb self-service kiosks and customer-service centres
Fines for unpaid tolls
If you cross without a registered, funded account, penalties escalate quickly:
| Violation | Fine (AED) |
|---|---|
| First violation | 100 |
| Second violation | 200 |
| Third and subsequent | 400 each |
| Annual cap on total fines per vehicle | 25,000 |
Fines are separate from the AED 4 toll itself, so an unregistered vehicle can rack up charges fast. Registering promptly and keeping credit topped up is far cheaper than clearing penalties later.
Who is exempt
Not every vehicle pays. Exemptions typically cover motorcycles, public buses, taxis, emergency and military vehicles, and vehicles registered to People of Determination (with the appropriate registration). If you qualify, you still need to register your vehicle with Darb so the exemption is applied to your account — the gate reads the plate either way. Check your status in the Darb app rather than assuming the system already knows.
Darb vs Dubai’s Salik
If you have driven in Dubai, Darb will feel familiar — it is Abu Dhabi’s equivalent of Salik. The two systems are run by different authorities and use separate accounts, so a Salik tag does not cover Darb crossings and vice versa. Drivers who commute between the emirates need both accounts funded. The pricing model differs too: Salik charges a flat fee at all hours on its gates, whereas Darb’s original bridge gates only charge during weekday peaks.
Tips to keep your toll bill down
- Time your trips. On the bridge gates, leaving before 7:00 AM or between 9:00 AM and 3:00 PM avoids the charge entirely.
- Use Sundays and holidays for errands that require crossing the bridges.
- Keep credit loaded and enable auto-recharge so a zero balance never turns a toll into a fine.
- Plan around the 24/7 gates — if Ghantoot or Al Qurm sit on your route, there is no free window, so consolidate trips.
Bottom line
In 2026, Darb costs AED 4 per crossing with no daily cap. The four bridge gates only charge during weekday peaks (7–9 AM and 3–7 PM, Monday to Saturday) and are free on Sundays and holidays, while the new Ghantoot and Al Qurm gates charge around the clock. Register within 10 working days, keep your account funded, and you will avoid fines that start at AED 100 and climb from there. New to running a car and home in the capital? Our Abu Dhabi cost of living guide and our walkthrough on setting up utilities in the UAE cover the rest of the monthly budget, and if you would rather skip the toll, the new Etihad Rail passenger service is worth a look.
