Cross-Emirate Driving: Managing Both Salik and Darb

But what many drivers forget is that to cross between these two major emirates one needs to pay two toll-free routes: Salik in Dubai and Darb in Abu Dhabi. Whether you drive to work, plan a weekend getaway or go on an escape and go somewhere special, knowing how to run both systems is the best way to avoid fines and keep travel costs under control.

Understanding Two Distinct Systems

First and foremost, the fact that both Salik and Darb operate within completely different jurisdictions and require their own registration, differ in technologies and rules. It is not an unifying UAE toll system, so drivers traveling frequently between Dubai and Abu Dhabi are required to register with the two platforms and have separate accounts.

Founded in 2007, the Salik system was the first electronic toll collection system in the UAE. It uses radio frequency identification, or physical tags, that are to be mounted on the windshield of your vehicle. These tiny orange stickers are made up of electronics that communicate with overhead sensors at ten strategically located toll gates in Dubai. By 2026, Salik has had variable prices with AED 6 for weekends (6am-10am, 4pm-8pm) and AED 4 for non-Saturdays, including free flights between 1am and 6am.

The Darb system, introduced in Abu Dhabi in January 2021, is more modern. Darb, unlike Salik, does not put any physical tags or stickers on your vehicle. Instead it has ANPR technology, which reads license plates as they pass through toll points, and recognizes vehicles by way of automatic number plate recognition. The system charges one-time AED 4 per crossing, from Monday to Saturday from 7am to 3pm with the rest on Sunday or public holidays.

Separate Registration Requirements: The Essential First Step

These systems are technologically separated, and require completely different registration processes. If you have a vehicle registered in Dubai and plan to drive to Abu Dhabi, you must also register separately with Darb even though you already have a Salik tag. Similarly, visitors to Dubai from Abu Dhabi must have a Salik tag for their vehicles.

With Salik registration, vehicles must purchase a Salik tag for AED 100 with preloaded credit of AED 50. The tag is available in stores on the Salik website, at authorized petrol stations or via the Salik mobile app. Once your vehicle is registered, you place it on your windshield behind the rearview mirror and you click on it, entering your license plate number, Emirates ID and your contact information. Then, you have a prepaid account that automatically adds toll fees as you pass through the gates.

Darb registration follows a different path, since there is no physical tag. You simply visit their website, download the mobile app, and register with your email address, phone number, Emirates ID, and vehicle details. One time registration is AED 100 and an additional AED 50 are charged to your account. Because Darb runs on a license plate, you don't need anything else to put on your car – the system automatically identifies and charges your registered car as it passes through toll gates.

A major feature that has caught many cross-emirate drivers off guard is that you cannot wear a Salik tag in Abu Dhabi and you cannot expect to be recognized as a Darb in Dubai. These two systems have no communication and if anyone tries to pass by toll gates without registered in either of the emirates, they will face fines. This is often the case for users of rental cars, who use the rental company, who registers their vehicles in both systems and charges you (plus administrative fees) for that.

Dubai to Abu Dhabi Road Trips: Planning Your Journey

Sheikh Zayed Road (E11), the most common route between Dubai and Abu Dhabi, is a modern highway connecting the two cities seamlessly and directly. Having that convenience, but, also comes with tolls on both ends of your journey. Depending on toll gate locations and the timing of your trip can affect your costs.

If you exit from Dubai, there is likely to be at least one Salik gate, depending on where you start. The most common airports for visitors coming to Abu Dhabi are at Al Barsha and Jebel Ali on Sheikh Zayed Road. Time is an issue when pricing is variable with Salik 2026. If you go out during the peak hours of Dubai (6am-6am and 4pm-8pm on weekdays), it will cost AED 6 per gate. But, taking a break during off-peak hours raises the cost to AED 4 and arriving late at night (1am-6am) means you have no difficulty transiting through all Dubai toll gates.

Once you arrive at Abu Dhabi, you will cross one of the four bridges to get to the main island, and every bridge has a Darb toll gate. If you are heading out to the Corniche, Saadiyat Island, or Yas Island, you will most likely pass by either Sheikh Zayed Bridge or Sheikh Khalifa Bridge. Good news, Darb tolls are only in effect during peak times on weekdays, 7am-9am and 3pm-7pm. If you travel during peak times, on a Sunday, or on public holidays, you will be able to cross into Abu Dhabi entirely at the toll-free number.

The timing is critical to planning for budget travelers or multi-weekly travelers. Plan your Abu Dhabi visit mid-morning or early afternoon if both Salik and Darb are operating during their cheaper or free time. If you cross two Salik gates and one Darb gate in each direction, you could have cost AED 8-12 for a flight that leaves Dubai at 10:30am and returns around 2pm.

It is interesting to note that between September 2025, both Darb and Salik had lifted their caps for the days and months. Darb had previously set daily charges to AED 16 and monthly charges at AED 200, and Salik had a similar amount of charges. Now, there is a fee for each crossing regardless of how many times you've passed through that spot or month, making frequent cross-emirate commuters more costly.

Combined Toll Costs for UAE Travelers

Let’s break the realistic costs down into general cross-emirate travel scenarios. Knowing these numbers will help you to budget and make informed decisions about when and how often you should take the journey.

Tolls are high for a single round trip between Dubai and Abu Dhabi during high hours. If you pass through two Salik gates in Dubai (one leaving, one returning) at AED 6 each during peak times, then that’s AED 12. Add one Darb gate crossing in each direction at AED 4 at the peak of Abu Dhabi's traffic, and you have another AED 8. Toll cost for one hour of peak hour is AED 20.

Smart timing can at least minimize such costs. If you arrived outside of peak hours in Abu Dhabi on time you would have to pay AED 8 for Salik and AED 4 for Darb. That's a total of AED 8 savings – 60% less than peak travel. If you are really smart and travel late at night, you can possibly do the entire round trip toll-free through Dubai and pay AED 8 for the Abu Dhabi crossings if they are during peak hours or completely free if not.

The costs are steep for commuters. Those five days a week at peak times travelling between Dubai and Abu Dhabi would pay AED 400-500 a month in tolls alone, a cost that wasn’t as bad when monthly caps were in place. This has prompted many cross-emirate workers to reconsider their modes of travel, to look at alternative work options, or even move in order to reduce the daily burden of roadside fees.

In addition, costs for business travelers and family trips are necessary. Most rental car companies charge not just the toll, but an administrative fee of AED 5-15 per crossing, almost double your toll. For example, if you are renting a car for a weekend away in Abu Dhabi from Dubai, ask the rental company first about the toll policy and asking for a breakdown of charges.

Practical Tips for Managing Both Systems

To drive safely across borders requires active control of the toll accounts. First, enable automatic top-up on both Salik and Darb accounts so that insufficient balances are not penalized. Both systems will increase penalties if your account becomes unfilled, and in Darb’s case, non-Abu Dhabi vehicles pay AED 50 per day after five days’ grace.

Download the same mobile app – Salik or Darb – to check your balance, verify transactions, and receive notifications of crossings. These apps are great for logging in on your toll spending and ensuring that your accounts are still funded. Set up notifications so that you are notified before your balance drops too low.

Try navigation apps that have toll-avoidance features. The busiest route is Sheikh Zayed Road, but there are some toll roads, such as Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road (E311) or Emirates Road (E611) that can take you around. These will take 15-30 minutes to complete. What counts as a time trade-off and/or whether it means to save you money will depend on how busy your schedule is and what your budget is.

Keep electronic or print copies of your registration confirmations for both systems in your car. Technical glitches are rare, but they can occur, and having a copy of registration can help to settle disputes much quicker if you are wrongly identified for a violation.

The different, sometimes confusing, toll systems in the UAE serve a vital function in managing traffic and investing in infrastructure development. Knowing the specific needs of Salik and Darb, how you plan your trips, and what accounts you keep on both accounts are all the things you need to know to drive safely across borders and keep the toll expenses under control. Regardless of whether you’re a commuter or a frequent traveler, having mastered both systems means that nothing is keeping you from your destination more than 140 kilometers of good highway – not administrative headaches or fines.