After Dubai successfully implemented the Salik road toll gate system, Abu Dhabi now has the Darb road toll gate system, which is operational since January 2, 20211. It aims to manage traffic flow and, as a result reduce congestion during peak hours, by charging motorists a fee for crossing certain bridges.
Toll Charges and Peak Hours
Motorists are charged AED 4 every time they cross any of the four bridges with toll gates on them, namely Sheikh Zayed Bridge, Sheikh Khalifa Bridge, Al Maqta Bridge, and Musaffah Bridge2. The tolls are only chargeable during peak times, which are within the hours of 7 am to 9 am and from 5 pm to 7 pm, Saturday through Thursday3. Unlike the Salik system of Dubai, which charges throughout the day, the Darb system in Abu Dhabi does not collect tolls outside these peak hours nor on Fridays and public holidays.
Vehicle Registration and Fee
All motorists must register their vehicles in order to use the Darb toll gate system. Registration costs AED 100 per vehicle, whereof AED 50 is transferred back to the account as balance4, which is subtracted every time the vehicle crosses one of the toll gates.
Daily and Monthly Caps
The Darb system has put caps on the maximum tolls that a vehicle can incur. The daily cap for the vehicle is AED 16, while a monthly cap will be variable depending on the number of vehicles registered to a single account5. The first registered vehicle will have a monthly cap at AED 200, and the second vehicle will be at AED 150, while all subsequent vehicles will be at AED 100.
Exemptions and Grace Periods
Specific individuals and automobiles are exempt from having to pay tolls. Older citizens above the age of 60, retired citizens, citizens of determination, and low-income citizens are allowed to be exempted through Darb website. Vehicles that are free from toll payments include ambulances, Armed Forces vehicles, Civil Defense vehicles, public buses, motorcycles, approved public taxis, approved school buses, and Interior Ministry and Abu Dhabi Police vehicles.
A grace period is afforded to motorists to avoid fines. In the event that a vehicle crosses a toll gate without being registered, a motorist is given 10 days to register the vehicle before a fine is issued. In a similar event, when a vehicle crosses a toll gate during peak hours with insufficient balance in the account, a motorist is given 5 days to top up the account before a fine is imposed.
No Stickers Involved
Unlike some toll systems that depend on a sticker to be kept on the windscreen, the Darb system uses number plate recognition technology for vehicles. This means that there is no need for motorists to display a sticker on their windscreen.
The Darb road toll gate system in Abu Dhabi is designed to allow effective traffic flow management during peak hours, thus reducing congestion and improving driving experience in the emirate. Understanding such factors as registration, toll charges, exemptions, and grace periods would ensure smooth navigation through the system and avoid penalties due to late payment.
