Quick answer: Abu Dhabi’s Darb toll system charges AED 4 per crossing. The established gate network uses peak charging windows of 07:00–09:00 and 15:00–19:00, except Sundays and official holidays. But two gates added in May 2026 — Al Qurm and Ghantoot — operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at AED 4 per crossing. Daily and monthly toll caps have been removed.
Last verified: 1 October 2026 against Abu Dhabi Mobility.
What is Darb?
Darb is Abu Dhabi’s electronic road-toll system. Vehicles are detected automatically when they pass through a toll gate, so drivers do not stop at a booth. Account and vehicle management is handled through the official Darb platform/app.
How much does Darb cost?
The current standard toll is AED 4 per charged crossing.
For the established Darb gates, Abu Dhabi Mobility currently lists the charging periods as:
- Morning: 07:00–09:00
- Evening: 15:00–19:00
- Sunday and official holidays: exempt under the published standard peak-hours schedule
However, do not apply those hours to every gate in 2026. Two newer gates follow a different charging pattern.
Important 2026 change: Al Qurm and Ghantoot are 24/7
Abu Dhabi Mobility announced two additional gates that started operating on 4 May 2026:
- Al Qurm Toll Gate: Wahat Al Karama Street at the entrance and exit of Sheikh Zayed Street;
- Ghantoot Toll Gate: Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid Street in Ghantoot.
These two gates operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week and charge AED 4 per crossing. This is the main reason older Darb guides that say “you only pay at peak times” are now incomplete.
Are there daily or monthly caps?
No. Abu Dhabi Mobility says the previous daily and monthly caps have been removed. Frequent crossings can therefore add up quickly, so commuters should track routes rather than assuming charges stop after a daily limit.
How do you register?
Use the official Darb website/app to create or access your account, add/manage vehicles and maintain the wallet used for toll charges where applicable. Registration requirements can differ depending on whether the vehicle is registered in Abu Dhabi or another emirate, so follow the current official prompts rather than an old third-party checklist.
Which vehicles are automatically exempt?
Abu Dhabi Mobility currently lists several automatic exemptions, including public transport buses, motorcycles, authorised Abu Dhabi taxis, authorised school buses, certain police/emergency vehicles and some other official vehicle categories.
Separate exemption-by-request categories exist for one eligible vehicle for groups including people of determination, low-income citizen families, senior citizens and retired citizens.
What happens if your vehicle is not registered?
For an unregistered vehicle, Abu Dhabi Mobility currently provides a 10-working-day grace period from the crossing date. After that, the published fines are:
- AED 100 for the first violation;
- AED 200 for the second;
- AED 400 for the third and subsequent violations.
Insufficient balance fines
For vehicles registered outside Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi Mobility lists a fine of AED 50 per transaction if there is insufficient Darb balance and the balance is not corrected within the current five-working-day grace period.
A practical newcomer routine
- Register and verify your vehicle in the Darb system.
- Keep sufficient balance where the account requires it.
- Know whether your route crosses a normal peak-hour gate or one of the newer 24/7 gates.
- Check the app before assuming Sunday or holiday exemptions apply to every gate.
- Review charges regularly if you commute through Abu Dhabi.
Related guides: Abu Dhabi Mawaqif parking, Abu Dhabi public transport and the UAE hub.
