Quick Answer
DARB is Abu Dhabi's automated road toll system, managed by the Integrated Transport Centre (ITC). The registration fee is AED 100 per vehicle(AED 50 credited back as your opening balance). You register at darb.itc.gov.ae. The toll charge is AED 4 per crossingduring peak hours, with a daily cap ofAED 16and monthly caps of AED 200/150/100 per vehicle. Peak hours are 7:00–9:00 AM and 3:00–7:00 PM, Monday to Saturday. Sundays and public holidays are free. There are four toll gates: Sheikh Zayed Bridge, Al Maqta Bridge, Sheikh Khalifa Bridge, and Mussafah Bridge.
DARB Abu Dhabi: key facts at a glance (2026)
| Detail | Information |
| Operated by | AD Mobility — Integrated Transport Centre (ITC), Abu Dhabi |
| Registration fee | AED 100 (AED 50 credited back to your Darb wallet) |
| Toll charge per crossing | AED 4 (peak hours only) |
| Daily cap per vehicle | AED 16 |
| Monthly cap — 1st vehicle | AED 200 |
| Monthly cap — 2nd vehicle | AED 150 |
| Monthly cap — 3rd vehicle | AED 100 |
| Morning peak hours | 7:00 AM – 9:00 AM, Monday to Saturday |
| Evening peak hours | 3:00 PM – 7:00 PM, Monday to Saturday |
| Ramadan morning peak | 8:00 AM – 10:00 AM |
| Ramadan evening peak | 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM |
| Free crossings | Sundays, UAE public holidays, all off-peak hours |
| Toll gates | Sheikh Zayed Bridge, Al Maqta Bridge, Sheikh Khalifa Bridge, Mussafah Bridge |
| Online portal | darb.itc.gov.ae |
| Grace period | 10 working days from first crossing to register |
| ITC helpline | 800 555 |
Table of contents
- What is DARB Abu Dhabi?
- Who must register for DARB in the UAE?
- How to register for DARB online (step-by-step)
- Documents needed for DARB registration
- How to log in to DARB
- DARB registration for company vehicles
- DARB registration fee, daily cap & monthly caps
- DARB operating hours (including Ramadan)
- DARB toll gate locations
- How to recharge your DARB balance
- Who is exempt from DARB fees?
- DARB violations and fines
- Frequently asked questions
1. What is DARB Abu Dhabi?
DARB (دَرب) is Abu Dhabi's automated road toll system, introduced under Law No. 17 of 2017 on Road Tolls in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. The Integrated Transport Centre (ITC), part of the Department of Municipalities and Transport, operates the system.
The system works through plate recognition, not physical tags. Sensors at each toll gate read your plate and deduct the charge automatically from your prepaid Darb account. No sticker, no device — just a registered account with enough balance.
The goal is straightforward: reduce peak-hour congestion on the bridges connecting Abu Dhabi island to the mainland by making those crossings cost something during busy periods.
2. Who must register for DARB in the UAE?
Any vehicle crossing an Abu Dhabi toll gate needs a DARB account, regardless of where it's registered. This covers:
- Abu Dhabi residents with locally registered vehicles
- Drivers with vehicles registered in Dubai, Sharjah, or any other emirate
- GCC-registered vehicles entering Abu Dhabi
- Rental car drivers (confirm with your rental company that the vehicle is registered)
- Company fleet vehicles (require a separate Establishment account — see Section 6)
You get a 10-working-day grace period from your first crossing to register. After that, every unregistered crossing is a chargeable violation.
3. How to register for DARB online (step-by-step)
Register at darb.itc.gov.ae or through the DARB mobile app on iOS or Android. The whole process takes about 10 minutes.
- Go to darb.itc.gov.ae and click "Create a New Darb Account."
- Select service type: Individual.
- Enter your email address and verify it with the OTP sent to your inbox.
- Select your emirate and enter your Traffic Code Number (TCN) — found on the back of your driving licence.
- Fill in your personal data and verify your registered UAE mobile number with an OTP.
- The system displays all vehicles registered under your name.
- Select the vehicle(s) you want to register and upload the Mulkiya (vehicle registration card).
- Choose your payment method (credit/debit card or Amwal Wallet).
- Pay the AED 100 registration fee. AED 50 lands in your Darb wallet immediately.
Once payment goes through, your account is live. The system reads your plate at each gate and deducts from your wallet automatically from that point on.
4. Documents needed for DARB registration
Have these ready before you start:
| Document | Notes |
| Valid Emirates ID | For identity verification |
| Vehicle Mulkiya (registration card) | Or equivalent from your emirate of registration |
| Traffic Code Number (TCN) | On the back of your UAE driving licence |
| Active UAE mobile number | For OTP verification |
| Email address | For account creation and notifications |
| Credit or debit card | Visa or Mastercard, for the AED 100 fee and future top-ups |
If your vehicle is registered in Dubai or another emirate, use that registration card instead of an Abu Dhabi Mulkiya.
5. How to log in to DARB
Go to darb.itc.gov.ae/RucWeb/login, enter your email and password, and verify with the OTP sent to your mobile. The DARB app uses the same credentials.
From your dashboard you can:
- Check your wallet balance and crossing history
- Top up your wallet (minimum AED 50)
- Add or remove vehicles
- Enable auto-recharge
- View and pay outstanding violations
- Apply for an exemption
- Update contact or payment details
Forgot your password? Use the "Forgot Password" link on the login page. A reset email goes to your registered address. For anything more complex, call the ITC on 800 555.
6. DARB registration for company vehicles
Companies with vehicles registered to the business need an Establishment account, not an Individual one. This covers any business fleet, from a couple of cars to hundreds of commercial vehicles.
- Go to darb.itc.gov.ae and click "Create a New Darb Account."
- Select service type: Establishment (not Individual).
- Enter your company's Establishment Traffic Code Number (TCN).
- Verify the company email and authorised mobile number with OTPs.
- Upload the required company documents (listed below).
- Submit an Excel sheet listing all vehicles: plate number, colour, source emirate, and vehicle category.
- Submit for review. The ITC processes commercial accounts manually, so allow extra time.
Documents required for company DARB registration
| Document | Notes |
| Company trade licence | Valid copy |
| Signed letter on official company letterhead | Include company rep name, email, mobile, and TCN |
| Establishment Traffic Code Number (TCN) | Issued by Abu Dhabi traffic authority |
| Vehicle list (Excel format) | Plate number, colour, source emirate, category for each vehicle |
Once the ITC approves the account, all listed vehicles go live at the same time. The company then manages top-ups and crossing history for the whole fleet from one dashboard.
7. DARB registration fee, daily cap & monthly caps
The registration fee is AED 100 per vehicle. It splits into AED 50 for the registration itself and AED 50 credited to your Darb crossing balance. Your net spend to get started is AED 50.
| Charge | Amount | Notes |
| Registration fee | AED 100 | AED 50 returned as opening balance |
| Toll per crossing (peak hours) | AED 4 | Per direction, per gate |
| Daily cap per vehicle | AED 16 | Maximum 4 peak-hour crossings billed per day |
| Monthly cap — 1st vehicle | AED 200 | Per account, per month |
| Monthly cap — 2nd vehicle | AED 150 | Per account, per month |
| Monthly cap — 3rd vehicle | AED 100 | Per account, per month |
8. DARB operating hours (including Ramadan)
DARB charges during two daily peak windows. Outside these windows, all crossings are free.
| Period | Morning peak | Evening peak | Days |
| Standard (non-Ramadan) | 7:00 AM – 9:00 AM | 3:00 PM – 7:00 PM | Monday to Saturday |
| Ramadan | 8:00 AM – 10:00 AM | 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM | Monday to Saturday |
| Free (always) | All other hours | Sunday + UAE public holidays | |
Note: the standard evening peak starts at 3:00 PM, not 5:00 PM as some older guides state. AD Mobility updated this and it's worth double-checking before you plan a commute.
9. DARB toll gate locations in Abu Dhabi
There are four DARB toll gates, all on bridges connecting Abu Dhabi island to the mainland:
- Sheikh Zayed Bridge
- Al Maqta Bridge
- Sheikh Khalifa Bridge
- Mussafah Bridge
Each gate charges per direction. Cross the same bridge twice during peak hours (once in, once out) and you pay AED 4 each way, subject to the daily cap.
10. How to recharge your DARB balance
Your wallet needs enough credit before each crossing. Minimum top-up is AED 50. Ways to recharge:
- Log in to darb.itc.gov.ae.
- Under the Darb section in your control panel, select "Recharge."
- Choose the amount you want to add (minimum AED 50).
- Click "Recharge using credit card" and enter your card details.
You can also recharge through the DARB mobile app (iOS and Android). Setting up auto-recharge is worth doing — it tops up your balance automatically when it falls below a threshold you set, so you never get caught with an insufficient balance violation.
11. Who is exempt from DARB toll fees?
The following vehicles and categories qualify for a full DARB fee exemption:
| Category | Conditions |
| Ambulances, military, and civil defense vehicles | Full exemption |
| Abu Dhabi public buses and licensed public taxis | Abu Dhabi-registered only |
| School buses | Registered in Abu Dhabi only |
| Passenger buses with 26 or more seats | All passenger buses |
| Trailers and motorcycles | Full exemption |
| Abu Dhabi Police, Ministry of Interior, and local police vehicles | Full exemption |
| People with disabilities | One vehicle per person |
| Senior citizens | One vehicle per person |
| Low-income families | One vehicle per family |
To apply for a personal exemption (senior citizen, disability, low-income), log in to your DARB account, go to Exemptions, select your category, and upload the required documents. The ITC reviews applications before the exemption takes effect.
12. DARB violations and fines
DARB fines depend on the type of violation, not just how many times you've crossed:
| Violation type | Fine |
| Unregistered vehicle — 1st crossing | AED 100 |
| Unregistered vehicle — 2nd crossing | AED 200 (escalates from there) |
| Insufficient wallet balance at time of crossing | AED 50 |
| Tampering with a number plate | Up to AED 10,000 |
| Monthly maximum (non-tamper violations) | AED 10,000 |
How to check and pay DARB violations
- Log in to your DARB account at darb.itc.gov.ae.
- Go to the Violations section.
- Review each violation (date, gate, amount) and pay through the platform.
- To dispute a fine, submit a formal dispute from the same page using your Emirates ID or TCN.
