Salik and Darb Tolls in the UAE: Dubai & Abu Dhabi Fees
Compare Dubai Salik and Abu Dhabi Darb tolls: current fees and hours, gate locations, new 24-hour Abu Dhabi gates, and what rental-car drivers should check.
4 min readUpdated 1 October 2026
Salik charges vary by time: in Dubai, the current weekday rate is AED 6 during 6–10am and 4–8pm, AED 4 at other daytime periods, and free from 1–6am. Abu Dhabi's older Darb gates charge AED 4 in peak hours; Al Qurm and Ghantout operate 24/7 except Sundays and official holidays. Rental-car toll handling depends on the supplier's terms.
The UAE road toll guide I wish I had before a Dubai–Abu Dhabi drive.
The first time a road toll appears after a trip, it can feel as if something went wrong. I had driven from Abu Dhabi's Corniche towards Saadiyat Island and only later realised that the route had passed through a Darb toll point. There was no booth, no ticket and no moment at which somebody asked me to pay. That is exactly why Salik and Darb are worth understanding before a UAE road trip.
01Salik and Darb are not the same system
| Point | Dubai Salik | Abu Dhabi Darb |
|---|---|---|
| Where it applies | Dubai toll gates | Abu Dhabi toll gates and bridges |
| How the vehicle is identified | Salik tag / electronic toll account | Vehicle plate recognition; no windshield tag is required |
| When a charge applies | Weekdays AED 6 peak, AED 4 off-peak; free 1–6am | Four bridge gates: AED 4 at peak; Al Qurm and Ghantout: AED 4 per crossing all day except Sundays and official holidays |
| How a visitor may notice it | Balance deduction or rental-company charge | Darb account, balance deduction or rental-company charge |
02Dubai Salik fees and hours
Salik uses variable pricing. On weekdays, each gate crossing costs AED 6 during the morning peak (6:00–10:00) and evening peak (16:00–20:00), AED 4 during the off-peak periods (10:00–16:00 and 20:00–01:00), and nothing from 01:00–06:00. On Sundays, the charge is AED 4 during the day and evening periods, with no charge from 01:00–06:00; public holidays and special events can change that Sunday schedule. These are per-crossing tolls, not a daily pass.
Salik is a free-flow toll system. The vehicle does not stop at a booth; the system identifies it as it passes the gate and deducts the charge from the Salik account. If the car is rented, ask how the rental company handles the toll: whether it is passed through at cost, bundled with an administration fee or reflected after the vehicle is returned.
03Abu Dhabi Darb fees: four peak-hour gates and two all-day gates
Darb is Abu Dhabi's separate, barrier-free toll system. Vehicles are identified by their number plates; there is no windshield tag. At Sas Al Nakhl, Al Maqta', Rabdan and Al Saadiyat, each crossing costs AED 4 during 07:00–09:00 and 15:00–19:00, Monday to Saturday. Sundays and official holidays are toll-free at these four gates.
Two newer gates have different hours. Al Qurm, at Wahat Al Karama Street by the Sheikh Zayed Road entrance and exit, and Ghantout, on Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid Road, operate 24 hours a day. They are toll-free on Sundays and official holidays; on other days each crossing costs AED 4.
<strong>Takeki's note</strong><br/>A drive to Saadiyat from Abu Dhabi Corniche introduced me to Darb only after the trip. There was no booth or ticket to notice. For a rental car, ask about Darb before setting off, then check the route and the supplier's toll terms.
04Driving between Dubai and Abu Dhabi: are Salik and Darb shared?
They are separate systems operated in separate emirates. A Dubai Salik account does not mean that the Abu Dhabi Darb side of a journey is automatically understood by the driver, and a Darb account is not a replacement for Salik. A cross-emirate route can therefore create separate toll events depending on the roads used.
The road itself may cross an emirate boundary without feeling like a new trip. That is why a Dubai–Abu Dhabi itinerary should be checked by route, not only by destination. If you are collecting a rental in Dubai and visiting Abu Dhabi, ask the supplier whether the car is already registered for the relevant systems and how each toll is reconciled after return.
05How the bill can reach a rental-car driver
With a private car, the relevant toll account or wallet is normally the driver's responsibility. With a rental car, the supplier controls the vehicle registration and account relationship. In practice, the rental company may settle the toll and later charge the renter, sometimes with an administration fee. The exact process is contractual, so it should be written into the quote rather than assumed.
Before pickup, ask four short questions: Is Salik or Darb included in the daily price? If not, what is charged per passage? Is there an administration fee? When will the final toll statement be sent? Keep the rental agreement, handover time and return time. They help distinguish your road use from the next customer's.
06Are there toll roads in the other emirates?
For ordinary drivers, the two systems to know are Dubai Salik and Abu Dhabi Darb. The UAE Government's roadways guidance identifies Salik and Darb as the road-toll systems, while roads such as E611 connect Dubai with Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain and Ras Al Khaimah. That does not mean every road in those emirates has a separate passenger-car toll system.
There are other road charges and regulated access arrangements in the UAE, and rules can change. For a normal Dubai road trip, do not assume a road becomes chargeable simply because it crosses into another northern emirate. Check the route and the rental company's terms for the actual vehicle you have.
- Salik: How it works
- Salik: current toll-gate locations
- Salik: variable toll pricing and hours (2025 Annual Report)
- Salik terms and conditions
- Abu Dhabi Mobility: Darb
- Abu Dhabi Mobility: Darb tariff amendments
- Q Mobility: Darb toll fees and gate policies
- Q Mobility: Darb gate locations and charges
- UAE Government: Roadways and tolls
07A little more UAE in your inbox.
Weekend places. Neighbourhood notes. A closer look at what is changing.
Common questions
Do I need a Salik tag in a rental car?
Do not buy a second tag without asking the rental company. The vehicle's Salik arrangement belongs to the supplier; confirm how your passages will be charged.
Do I need a Darb sticker?
Abu Dhabi Mobility says Darb identifies vehicles by their number plates and does not require a windshield tag. For a rental, ask the supplier how the vehicle is registered and how the charge is passed to you.
Will I pay the toll at the gate?
No. These are free-flow systems. The charge is recorded electronically and may appear in an account or later through the rental company.
What time is Salik free?
The current published schedule has no Salik charge from 1am to 6am. Other periods are charged at AED 4 or AED 6 depending on the day and time; Sundays can also have special event or holiday rules.
Are all Abu Dhabi Darb gates peak-hour only?
No. The four bridge gates charge AED 4 during peak periods, Monday to Saturday. Al Qurm and Ghantout operate 24/7, with AED 4 per crossing except Sundays and official holidays.
Is a Dubai–Abu Dhabi trip automatically one toll charge?
No. Salik and Darb are separate systems. The route and the gates crossed determine the recorded charges.
Sources · checked 1 October 2026
Official requirements and provider terms change. Confirm the terms that apply to your booking before paying.
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