UAE Toll Roads Complete Guide: Salik, Darb and Payment 2026
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UAE Toll Roads Complete Guide
System: Fully Electronic Toll Collection (ETC) — Salik (Dubai) and Darb (Abu Dhabi)
Coverage: Dubai (10 Salik gates) and Abu Dhabi (6 Darb gates); Ajman, Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah, and Umm Al Quwain remain completely toll-free
Currency: UAE Dirham (AED)
Technology: Salik RFID windshield tags / ANPR camera detection; Darb Automatic License Plate Recognition (ANPR, no physical tag required)
Operators: Salik Company PJSC (Dubai RTA); Integrated Transport Centre / AD Mobility (Abu Dhabi)
Do I Need a Toll Tag for the UAE? 2026 Update
It depends on where you drive. In Dubai, a Salik RFID windshield tag linked to a prepaid account is required to drive through any of Dubai's 10 toll gates. In Abu Dhabi, the Darb system relies entirely on license plate recognition cameras—no physical windshield tag is needed, but your vehicle plate must be registered on the Darb online portal. The northern emirates (Sharjah, Ajman, Ras Al Khaimah, Fujairah, and Umm Al Quwain) operate zero toll roads.
Salik Variable Pricing & VAT: Salik uses dynamic time-of-day rates rather than a flat fee. Since June 1, 2026, a 5% VAT applies to all Salik charges, setting peak crossing rates at AED 6.30 and off-peak rates at AED 4.20.
2026 Network Expansion: Abu Dhabi expanded its Darb toll network from 4 to 6 gates on May 4, 2026, activating two 24/7 highway gates (Ghantoot Gate on E11 and Al Qurm Gate on Sheikh Zayed Street) alongside the 4 original bridge gates.
UAE Toll Costs: Current Rates
Salik Rates - Dubai (2026, VAT-Inclusive)
| Time Window | Hours / Schedule | Rate (AED, VAT incl.) |
|---|---|---|
| Peak Hours (Monday–Saturday) | 6:00 AM – 10:00 AM and 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM | AED 6.30 |
| Off-Peak Hours (Monday–Saturday) | 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM and 8:00 PM – 1:00 AM | AED 4.20 |
| Sunday (Flat Off-Peak Rate) | All day (except late-night free window) | AED 4.20 |
| Standard Late Night (All Gates) | 1:00 AM – 6:00 AM daily | FREE |
| Al Maktoum Bridge Special Schedule | Toll-free 10:00 PM – 6:00 AM (Mon–Sat) and ALL DAY Sunday (accommodates Floating Bridge traffic detour) | FREE during designated hours |
Linked Gate Policy: Crossing both Al Mamzar North and Al Mamzar South, or both Al Safa North and Al Safa South, in the same direction within 60 minutes is charged as a single gate crossing. During the Holy Month of Ramadan, the free late-night window shifts to 2:00 AM – 7:00 AM.
Official Salik Gate Locations (10 Gates)
- Al Barsha Gate — Sheikh Zayed Road (near Mall of the Emirates)
- Al Garhoud Bridge Gate — Sheikh Rashid Road
- Al Maktoum Bridge Gate — Umm Hurair Road
- Al Mamzar North Gate — Al Ittihad Road (direction to Sharjah)
- Al Mamzar South Gate — Al Ittihad Road (direction to Dubai)
- Al Safa Gate (North) — Sheikh Zayed Road (between Al Meydan St & Financial Centre Rd)
- Al Safa South Gate — Sheikh Zayed Road (between Al Meydan St & Umm Al Sheif St)
- Airport Tunnel Gate — Beirut Street
- Business Bay Crossing Gate — Al Khail Road
- Jebel Ali Gate — Sheikh Zayed Road (near Ibn Battuta / JAFZA)
Darb Rates - Abu Dhabi (2026)
| Gate Category | Gate Locations | Charging Hours | Rate & Capping Rules |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 Island Bridge Gates | Sheikh Zayed Bridge, Sheikh Khalifa Bridge, Al Maqtaa Bridge, Mussafah Bridge | Peak Hours ONLY: 7:00–9:00 AM and 3:00–7:00 PM (Mon–Sat); Free off-peak, Sundays, and public holidays | AED 4 per crossing. No Daily Cap: Daily/monthly caps for private vehicles have been removed; every peak-hour transaction is billed at AED 4. |
| 2 New Highway Gates (from May 4, 2026) | Ghantoot Gate (E11, Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid St) & Al Qurm Gate (Wahat Al Karama St / Sheikh Zayed St) | 24 hours a day, 7 days a week | AED 4 per crossing (uncapped) |
Darb Exemptions: Motorcycles, taxis, school buses, public transport buses, emergency services, and heavy vehicles over 26 passengers are exempt. Eligible categories (senior citizens, People of Determination, low-income citizens, retirees) may register one personal vehicle for full exemption via the AD Mobility portal.
How to Pay UAE Tolls & Violation Penalties
1. Salik (Dubai):
- Buy an RFID tag (AED 100, which includes AED 50 initial credit) and affix it to your windshield.
- Link the tag to your Salik prepaid account and top up via the Smart Salik app, website, or online banking.
- Toll Evasion Fines:
- Passing a gate without an active tag: AED 100 (1st time), AED 200 (2nd time), AED 400 (3rd and each subsequent time). A 10-working-day grace period applies to purchase and register a tag.
- Insufficient Balance: Crossing a gate with insufficient funds incurs a fine of AED 50 per transaction if the account balance is not topped up within 5 working days.
- Rental vehicles: Toll fees plus rental agency admin surcharges are automatically added to your rental invoice.
2. Darb (Abu Dhabi):
- Create an account at darb.itc.gov.ae (AED 100 registration fee per vehicle, including AED 50 wallet balance).
- No physical tag is required; ANPR cameras automatically detect your license plate.
- Darb Violation Penalties:
- Unregistered Vehicle Fine: Passing a Darb gate with an unregistered vehicle gives a 10-working-day grace period. After 10 working days, progressive daily fines apply: AED 100 for the 1st day, AED 200 for the 2nd day, and AED 400 for the 3rd day and every day thereafter.
- Insufficient Balance Fine: Passing a Darb gate with an insufficient wallet balance triggers a fine of AED 50 per transaction/crossing if the account is not topped up within 5 working days.
Recent Changes (2026)
Salik (Dubai Updates):
- 5% VAT applied across all toll charges effective June 1, 2026 (Peak: AED 6.30 / Off-Peak: AED 4.20).
- Active 10-gate network operational following the addition of Business Bay Crossing and Al Safa South gates.
- Integration of barrier-free parking payment at major commercial hubs (Dubai Mall, Parkonic locations).
Darb (Abu Dhabi Updates):
- Activation of 2 new 24/7 highway gates on May 4, 2026: Ghantoot Gate (E11) and Al Qurm Gate (Sheikh Zayed Street).
- Abolition of daily/monthly caps for private vehicles; every peak-hour crossing incurs AED 4.
Planning Your Journey & Toll-Free Routes
Toll-Free Alternate Highways:
- Bypassing Salik in Dubai: Drivers can use Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road (E311) or Emirates Road (E611) to travel north-south without crossing Salik gates. Al Khail Road (E44) is toll-free except at Business Bay Crossing.
- Bypassing Darb in Abu Dhabi:
- To bypass Al Qurm Gate: Use Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Street or Arabian Gulf Street.
- To bypass Ghantoot Gate: Use Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Street (E311).
- Intercity Toll-Free Routes: Driving between Abu Dhabi and Al Ain via E22 is entirely toll-free. All roads in Sharjah, Ajman, RAK, UAQ, and Fujairah are toll-free.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Al Shindagha Tunnel / Corridor a toll gate?
No. The Al Shindagha corridor and tunnel are completely toll-free. There is no Salik gate at Al Shindagha.
Is there a daily cap on Darb toll charges in Abu Dhabi?
No. Abu Dhabi eliminated the AED 16 daily cap for private passenger vehicles. Every peak-hour crossing on the bridge gates and every 24/7 crossing on the highway gates is charged at AED 4 per trip.
What is the fine for driving through Darb without an account?
Drivers have a 10-working-day grace period from the first crossing date to register an account. If the vehicle remains unregistered after 10 working days, progressive fines are issued: AED 100 for Day 1, AED 200 for Day 2, and AED 400 for Day 3 and each subsequent day.
Are rental car drivers responsible for registering for Salik or Darb?
No. Car rental companies in the UAE pre-register all fleet vehicles for both Salik and Darb. Drivers do not need to register or buy tags; toll fees incurred are billed at rental return along with standard rental company administration fees.
UAE vs. Neighboring Countries
| Country | System Type | Typical Cost | Coverage |
|---|---|---|---|
| United Arab Emirates | Salik (Dubai) + Darb (Abu Dhabi) | AED 4.20–6.30 per gate (Salik) / AED 4.00 (Darb) | Dubai and Abu Dhabi urban/highway corridors |
| Saudi Arabia | King Fahd Causeway toll plaza | SAR 35 (Passenger Cars) | Domestic national road network toll-free |
| Qatar | No toll collection | QAR 0 (Free) | All national highways and urban roads toll-free |
| Bahrain | King Fahd Causeway toll plaza | BHD 3.50 (Passenger Cars) | Domestic road network toll-free |
Official Resources
Official Portals:
- Salik Official Portal — account management, tag purchasing, balance top-up
- Darb Official Portal — Abu Dhabi vehicle registration, account top-up, exemption applications
- Roads and Transport Authority (RTA Dubai) — Dubai traffic regulations and toll updates
- AD Mobility (Abu Dhabi) — Integrated Transport Centre regulations and toll gate announcements
