Abu Dhabi Darb Toll Guide for Visitors and Rental Car Drivers

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Abu Dhabi Darb Toll Guide for Visitors and Rental Car Drivers

Quick answer: Darb is Abu Dhabi's road toll system. In 2026 it has six gates: four bridge gates onto Abu Dhabi island that charge AED 4 per crossing during peak hours (7–9am and 3–7pm, Monday to Saturday), and two gates at Ghantoot and Al Qurm that charge AED 4 at all hours since 4 May 2026. There's no daily cap. Rental cars are usually registered by the rental company, which bills tolls to you.

You've driven from Dubai to Abu Dhabi a dozen times and never thought about tolls. Then, in May 2026, a new gate appeared on the E11 at Ghantoot, charging every crossing, every hour of every day.

Darb has changed a lot in the past year. Daily caps disappeared in September 2025, two new 24/7 gates opened in May 2026, and the bridge gates were renamed. Here's what visitors and rental drivers need to know now.

For a full overview of tolls, parking and running costs across emirates, see our UAE driving-cost guide.

What is Darb?

Darb is Abu Dhabi's electronic toll gate system, launched in January 2021 and operated today under Abu Dhabi Mobility and its operator Q Mobility. Like Dubai's Salik, there are no booths: overhead gates read your plate and charge the linked account.

Unlike Salik, Darb uses number-plate recognition and an online account rather than a windscreen tag.

The six Darb gates in 2026

Gate	Location	When it charges
Sas Al Nakhl	Sheikh Zayed Bridge	Peak hours only
Al Maqta	Al Maqta Bridge	Peak hours only
Rabdan	Mussafah Bridge	Peak hours only
Al Saadiyat	Sheikh Khalifa Bridge	Peak hours only
Ghantoot	Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid Street (E11), near the Dubai border	24/7
Al Qurm	Wahat Al Karama Street at Sheikh Zayed Street	24/7

Darb charges and timings

Bridge gates: AED 4 per crossing, 7am–9am and 3pm–7pm, Monday to Saturday. Free outside those hours, on Sundays and on public holidays.
Ghantoot and Al Qurm: AED 4 per crossing, 24 hours a day, every day, including Sundays and holidays.
No daily or monthly cap. The previous AED 16 daily cap and monthly caps were removed in September 2025.
Ramadan: Peak hours shift; check Darb's announcements during the holy month.

Avoiding the 24/7 gates

Both new gates have official alternative routes:

Ghantoot: Use Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Street (E311 continuing into Abu Dhabi) instead of the E11 coastal route.
Al Qurm: Use Sheikh Rashid bin Saeed Street or Arabian Gulf Street.

For a Dubai–Abu Dhabi round trip on the E11, you'll pay AED 8 at Ghantoot alone, plus any bridge gates at peak times.

How Darb works on a rental car

Vehicles not registered in Abu Dhabi must be registered on Darb before using toll roads. For rental cars, the rental company usually registers the vehicle on its own account.

When you pass a gate, the toll is recorded against the car's plate. The rental company matches it to your rental period and bills it to you, typically on your final statement or monthly bill.

Before you head to Abu Dhabi, ask the rental company: is this car registered on Darb? If not, unregistered vehicles can face escalating fines (commonly quoted as AED 100, then AED 200, then AED 400) after a grace period.

Planning a trip to the capital? Browse cars for rent in Dubai and ask us to confirm Darb registration when you book.

Darb vs Salik: key differences

Feature	Darb (Abu Dhabi)	Salik (Dubai)
Charge per crossing	AED 4	AED 4 off-peak, AED 6 peak (+5% VAT)
When it charges	Peak hours at bridges; 24/7 at two gates	Most hours; free 1am–6am
Sundays	Free at bridges; charged at Ghantoot/Al Qurm	AED 4 all day (+VAT), free 1–6am
Technology	Plate recognition, online account	RFID windscreen tag
Daily cap	None (since Sept 2025)	None

For a detailed look at Dubai's system, read how Salik works on rental cars in Dubai.

Parking in Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi's public parking (Mawaqif) is separate from Darb. It's paid Monday to Saturday in most zones, with standard and premium rates, and free on Sundays and public holidays outside multi-storey car parks. Dubai's system works differently; see our guide to Dubai parking zones explained.

Driving tips for visitors to Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi has no speed buffer. The posted limit is the radar limit.
Speed limits drop to 80 km/h on affected roads during fog, rain and sandstorms.
Avoid entering the island between 7–9am and 3–7pm if you want to skip bridge tolls.

Key takeaways

Darb has six gates: four peak-hour bridge gates and two 24/7 gates at Ghantoot and Al Qurm.
Each crossing costs AED 4; there's no daily cap since September 2025.
Rental companies usually register cars on Darb and bill tolls to the renter.
Use the E311 instead of the E11 to avoid the Ghantoot gate.

Sources: Abu Dhabi Media Office and Integrated Transport Centre (new gates, April–May 2026), Abu Dhabi Mobility (cap removal, September 2025), Q Mobility. Last updated: 23 October 2026.