Roads, Tolls and Border Crossings in the UAE

Salik in Dubai

Salik operates Dubai's free-flowing toll system under a 49-year concession from the Roads and Transport Authority that runs to 2071. There are no barriers: an RFID sticker on the windscreen is read as the vehicle passes, and the toll is deducted from a prepaid account. Two new gates, at Business Bay Crossing on Al Khail Road and Al Safa South on Sheikh Zayed Road, opened in November 2024, bringing the total to ten.^1,5,2

Source: Salik Annual Report 2024: Operational review²

Variable pricing started on 31 January 2025. A vehicle passing both Al Safa North and Al Safa South in the same direction within an hour pays once. In the first quarter of 2026 the gates recorded 197.2 million trips, 145.7 million of them chargeable.^2,3

Darb in Abu Dhabi

The Darb toll system, run by Abu Dhabi Mobility, started on 2 January 2021 at the bridges into Abu Dhabi city. Vehicles are identified by their number plate, so no tag is needed, but every vehicle must be registered before crossing.⁶

• Since 1 September 2025, AED 4 is charged for each crossing from 7 am to 9 am and 3 pm to 7 pm, Monday to Saturday. Sundays and public holidays are free.
• The daily cap of AED 16 and the monthly caps for private vehicles were removed at the same time.
• Two gates, at Ghantoot on Sheikh Maktoum bin Rashid Street and on Wahat Al Karama Street, opened on 4 May 2026 and charge AED 4 at all hours.
• One vehicle each is exempt for senior citizens, People of Determination, low-income citizens and retired citizens.

Source: Abu Dhabi Media Office: Amendments to road tolls in Abu Dhabi; Abu Dhabi Media Office: Two new gates in the Darb toll gate system^4,7

Company vehicles that cross into Abu Dhabi every day pay for each crossing. Budget tolls in Abu Dhabi and Dubai into the running cost of a sales or service fleet.

Driving to Oman and Saudi Arabia

The UAE's roads connect to Saudi Arabia and Oman. There are several crossing points along the borders, some of them reserved for GCC citizens, and you can travel by private car or by public buses. Visitors driving into the UAE need an international driving permit and valid vehicle insurance, plus the exit permit of their country and a UAE entry visa.^8,9

Source: ICP: Field visits to ensure smooth movement at the ports during Eid Al Fitr; WAM: Dubai Customs, 4,000 passengers cross Hatta border every day (24 November 2018)^10,11

Land border crossings are run by the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Ports Security. Hatta handled an average of 4,000 passengers a day in 2018, according to Dubai Customs.^10,11