Abu Dhabi toll to cost Dh2?

Viral messages on social media have kept phones buzzing.

Viral messages floating around on WhatsApp and social media have kept phones of Abu Dhabi residents buzzing for the last couple of days.

According to messages floating in English and Arabic communities, the new toll system in Abu Dhabi might be round the corner. However, the Abu Dhabi Department of Transport is yet to make a formal announcement.

According to the messages, four toll gates will be implemented in Abu Dhabi at the following locations: Al Maqta bridge, Musafah bridge, Sheikh Zayed bridge and Sheikh Khalifa bridge. Toll will be Dh4 for peak hours (7am to 9am, and 5pm to 7pm) and Dh2 for non-peak hours. (Read details here).
On Fridays and public holidays, the toll will be charged at Dh2 throughout the day.
Dubai introduced Salik in 2007
Dubai had implemented an automated toll collection system called Salik in 2007. The scheme, which means 'clear and moving' in Arabic, consists of seven toll gates set up around the city.

Dubai's Road and Transport Authority (RTA) designed Salik as a free-flowing system, so that you do not need to stop your car at any point on a Dubai highway and pay manually. Everything is done automatically - there are no toll booths, barriers or physical gates, so you drive straight through the toll gate at normal highway speed.

Before 2013, there was a maximum charge of Dh24 per day per car, but since 2013 there has been no limit on how much a vehicle can be charged for passing through Salik per day. So, if you go through 10 gates in a single day, expect to be charged Dh40.

A screenshot of the WhatsApp message that went viral.

• Abu Dhabi