Abu Dhabi confirms plan to introduce salik-like toll gates

The Department of Transport – Abu Dhabi (DoT) and the Integrated Transport Centre (ITC) said the toll gate systems will be installed on Sheikh Zayed Bridge, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Bridge, Al Maqtaa Bridge and Mussafah Bridge.

#AbuDhabi toll system operated by @AbuDhabiDoT & @ITCAbuDhabi, launching 15 October, is set to reduce traffic in the city, ease congestion for commuters & encourage more sustainable options like public transport, ride sharing & electric cars, which are fee exempt for 2 years. pic.twitter.com/rVKHozhgMf

— Abu Dhabi Government Media Office (@admediaoffice) July 25, 2019

The move is aimed at reducing traffic congestion to the city and raising the efficiency of the transport sector.

Charges

The toll fee will be AED4 for every pass during peak hours from Saturday to Thursday (7am – 9am and 5pm – 7pm).

During off-peak hours, on Fridays, and during public holidays, the toll fee will be AED2 for every pass. The toll collection system is operational 24/7, with a daily maximum fee of AED16 per vehicle.

Registration details

The amount due will be automatically deducted from a prepaid user account (the integrated electronic payment wallet). Vehicles will be automatically identified by their plate number without having to stick a tag on the windshield.

All road users will be required to open a special toll account and through this they will be able to manage their own vehicles and process payments due through a simple, user-friendly online system.

All Abu Dhabi registered vehicles on the official system registration launch, 30 August 2019, will have automatically registered accounts at no charge.

Account holders will automatically receive an SMS message stating their user-name and password for that account, and can then add any additional vehicles to the registered account as required.

Non-Abu Dhabi vehicles

For vehicles registered outside Abu Dhabi, the owner must be registered in the system before crossing the toll gates. In case a vehicle which is not registered in the toll gate system crosses under the toll gates, the user will be given a grace period of ten business days, starting from the crossing time, to register in the system, otherwise a fine applies.

Users must have sufficient credit in their account when crossing the toll gate system. Vehicles registered in Abu Dhabi may pay the toll fee according to the post-payment system during any vehicle licensing procedure in case of insufficient balance.

For vehicles registered outside Abu Dhabi with insufficient credit available in their user account, drivers have five business days to top up the account, otherwise a fine will apply as per the regulations.

Fines

There will be a ten working day grace period, after which, traffic fines for crossing the toll gate with a non-registered vehicle will be AED100 for the first day, AED200 for the second day, and AED400 for the third day, up to a maximum of AED10,000.

Crossing under the toll gates without sufficient balance in the user’s account for vehicles registered outside Abu Dhabi, and after the grace period deadline, will result in a fine of AED50 incurred each day.

In case users tamper with the vehicle’s license plate for the explicit purpose of evading the payment of fees, the fine is AED10,000. Additionally, causing damage to any e-payment machines or toll gates, will result in a fine of AED10,000.

Electric vehicles are exempt from the charges over a period of two years from the launch of the toll system, in order to preserve the environment and encourage sustainable living in the emirate.