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2023/02/22
If you are going to take a road trip (it doesn't matter if it's rent a car or your own), one of the most important things to consider before your ride hits the road is the local toll gate system, better known as DARB. Basically, it is an electronic toll collection system that charges drivers for using certain roads in the city.
Here's the twist: registering for, and using it can be a bit confusing if you're not familiar with it. This article will walk you through everything you need to know about the Abu Dhabi Toll Gate. Let’s delve into details and explore the most popular questions arising from visiting drivers.
Registration for tolls is quite a simple process. You can choose from two options to register: either through the DARBI website (darbi.itc.gov.ae or download the free mobile app from your store.
For individuals, before registering, ensure you have Emirates ID, phone number, email address, vehicle details, and a credit/debit card for payment. Afterward, select the service type as "individual," enter your email address, and follow the prompts to enter your vehicle and personal information. For commercial vehicles, you will need to provide a copy of your trade license, a stamped and signed letter from the company, and a list of cars you wish to activate.
The process for registering is similar to that of individuals, but you will select the service type as "Establishment" when creating your account. In both cases, once all the required information is entered and verified, you will receive an OTP and be able to set your desired password.
Registering the account is also pretty simple, provided you know what to do. You will need to follow these steps.
First, log in to the official website DARBI (or application). Once you're logged in, look for the button that says "register vehicle" and click on it.
Next, you'll need to enter your vehicle information. Then, choose the appropriate one among all the available payment methods.
After that, select your wallet and hit the "Pay" button. Your account will be activated after your first payment goes through.
Don’t forget to repeat this process for every car if you possess several vehicles. And that's it! Once your account is activated, you can log in to check your fines, add more money to your wallet, and see your transaction history.
If you've already created a Darb toll account in the past just log back in and activate it.
You won't need to create a new one from scratch. Here’s a brief instruction how to activate your account:
On your browser/device, visit the website or open the DARB mobile app. After that, log in using your Emirates ID or traffic code. After logging into the system, you must input an e-mail you use. A code will then be sent to the provided address, which you must enter in order to continue. Once this is done, you must provide a valid telephone number and verify it to complete the process.
If you want to pay tolls in Abu Dhabi, you'll need to set up an account with DARB, which we have already explained above. You will need to credit the account with AED 50 to start.
After that, every time you drive through a toll gate, the sensor will read your license plate and automatically deduct the fees from your account. Just make sure you have enough money in there to cover it.
Now, here's the thing about the tolls - they only charge you during certain times of the day. During specified periods of the day, known as peak hours, travelers in Abu Dhabi must pay tolls. These times range from 7 am to 9 am and 5 pm to 7 pm, Monday through Thursday. However, on Fridays and public holidays, drivers are exempt from paying tolls. And if you have multiple cars, you can use the same DARB account for all of them. Just remember to keep enough funds in there to cover the tolls.
Drivers in Abu Dhabi will incur a cost of AED 4 when passing through the DARB toll gates, during peak hours which are from Saturday to Thursday (07:00 am to 09:00 am and 05:00 pm to 07:00 pm). No charges will be made outside of these times on weekdays.
NB in case you have more than one car, you can get a monthly cap for each of them: AED 200 for the first, AED 150 for the second, and AED 100 for each additional one.
Toll fees in Abu Dhabi are based on the number of axles on the vehicle and the type of road being traveled. Payment is automatically deducted through your Nol card (an electronic payment card issued to residents in the region), or you can use coins or a debit/credit card at the tollgates. Additionally, drivers may frequently use online payment systems such as Sadad or Payit to conveniently pay their toll fees.
If you're driving in Abu Dhabi and you have a Salik tag from Dubai, it won't work there, as in Abu Dhabi, they use cameras that read your license plate number to collect the toll fees. So you'll need to sign up for a separate toll system account to avoid additional stress.
As we have explained above, the Salik tag is only for use in Dubai. To get the Salik tag in Abu Dhabi, you can apply online at salik.ae or visit any Salik Customer Service Center. It is worth noting you will need Salik tag on your car's windshield only if you are going from Abu Dhabi to Dubai on the road. Every time you go through a toll gate in Dubai, they'll charge you AED 4 on your tag.
If you want to find out about any fines, you can check it online, either on the website or through the mobile app. It's important to remember that you have to have your vehicle registered with Darb, even if it's an exempt vehicle.
The Salik is relevant for a trip on the roads of Dubai. If you don't register your vehicle within ten working days of crossing a DARB toll gate in Abu Dhabi, you will incur a daily fine starting with AED 100 (per day) and increasing up to a maximum of AED 10,000.
To avoid DARB Fines just register all your vehicles on the DARB tall system, using abovementioned ways for creating an account. Additionally, ensure your account balance is always sufficient to avoid a fine of AED 50 per day if insufficient funds are detected.
During non-peak hours on weekdays, the Darb tolls in Abu Dhabi are free of charge. The peak hours are the morning ones from 07:00 am to 09:00 am and the evening time interval from 05:00 pm to 07:00 pm. On Fridays and public holidays, no Darb charges will be applied. The maximum charge per day is AED 16.
Certain motorists are eligible for exemption from Darb fees. Approved requests for exemption have been granted to thousands of people in categories such as senior citizens aged 60 and above, retired citizens, people of determination, and citizens with limited income. In addition, registration with the Darb system is mandatory for all vehicles, even if they are exempt from fees. Any vehicle not registered on the system that crosses a toll gate in Abu Dhabi will have a 10-day (working days) grace period in which to register.
If you fall into one of the mentioned categories you must visit the Darb website, register in the system, and submit a request for exemption, specifying the type of exemption and providing the necessary documents. Exemption is restricted to one vehicle per person.
Abu Dhabi's Integrated Transport Centre (ITC) has announced that the Darb Toll Gate System would be activated from 2 January 2021.
The Al Maqta Bridge, Mussafah Bridge, Sheikh Zayed Bridge, and Sheikh Khalifa Bridge are the locations of the toll gates in Abu Dhabi.
No, Dubai Salik tags is an option for Dubai roads. The Darb system uses its own toll tags, which can be purchased at any point of sale in Abu Dhabi.
There are several different categories that fall under the exemption from paying Darb toll price. Basically, if you're a person of determination, an Emirati with a low income, a senior citizen (over 60 years old), or a retired person, you can apply for exemption from the charges.