The Department of Municipalities and Transport and the Integrated Transport Center in Abu Dhabi announced the amendment of some provisions of the executive regulations related to the traffic tariff system in the emirate, which will be applied on January 2, to become the payment of fees for crossing gates during peak times only, in order to reduce traffic congestion and enhance the flow of road traffic, and encourage community members On the use of alternative transportation methods.

The department set peak times from 7: 00-9: 00 in the morning, and from 5: 00-7: 00 from Saturday to Thursday, at 4 dirhams per crossing, and a maximum of 16 dirhams for individual vehicles per day, where fees are deducted automatically From a prepaid user account, without any fees outside peak times, Fridays, and during public holidays.

At the same time, the Department of Municipalities and Transport confirmed, in some amendments to the provisions of the system, the exemption of senior citizens, people of determination, citizens of low incomes, and retired citizens from Abu Dhabi traffic tariffs.

In an effort to promote alternative transportation and provide new and easy transportation options prior to the implementation of the traffic tariff system, the Department of Municipalities and Transport and the Integrated Transport Center recently announced several initiatives that included developing and expanding the public bus transport network, 327 new buses were purchased and 47 flights from the Abu Dhabi suburbs to Abu Dhabi City, 43 additional trips via Khalifa Bridge coming from Al Shahama and Yas Island, and 104 additional trips across Al Maqta Bridge coming from Mussafah, Baniyas and Al Nahda.

This comes as the Integrated Transport Center prepares to implement the traffic tariff system on four gates on major bridges in Abu Dhabi city, which are Sheikh Zayed Bridge, Sheikh Khalifa Bridge, Al Maqta Bridge and Mussafah Bridge. Fees are calculated on the vehicle through the plate number, without the need to install a transit card for the vehicle's tariff system on the vehicle's windshield.

In the same context, the Department of Municipalities, Transport and the Integrated Transport Center stated that the total irrigated tariffs payable monthly for each individual vehicle does not exceed 200 dirhams for the first vehicle, 150 dirhams for the second vehicle, and 100 dirhams for each additional vehicle, according to what is determined by the traffic tariff system electronically in terms of The vehicle reaches the monthly tariff fee ceiling. In the event that an individual vehicle is excluded, the monthly cap is applied to the remaining vehicles.

With regard to vehicles belonging to companies, accredited traffic tariffs are applied to them, but without applying the higher ceiling for daily or monthly fees.

Exempting senior citizens
The law defines senior citizens as every 60-year-old Emirati, and they can apply for an exemption from traffic tariff system fees by visiting one of the Customer Happiness Centers of the Integrated Transport Center, and presenting the Emirates ID card and vehicle ownership, while the exemption is limited to only one vehicle, Registered in the name of the person in question.

Exempting those of determination
Concerning the people of determination category, they can apply through the Customer Happiness Centers to request an exemption from the traffic tariff system fees by presenting the Emirates ID card and the People of Determination Card issued by the Ministry of Community Development or the Zayed Higher Organization for People of Determination, and the ownership of their vehicle or one of their relatives of the degree First and second only. The exemption is limited to one vehicle only, and it can be transferred from one vehicle to another as requested by the owner of the exemption, provided that the exemption for the first vehicle is canceled.

Exempting those with limited income
As for the owners of low-income citizens of the UAE, who meet the conditions set by the government agencies competent to support people with low-income in the state, applicants for them to exempt from fees must carry a document proving their affiliation with this category and show the Emirates ID card and vehicle ownership, provided that The exemption is limited to only one vehicle registered in the name of the person concerned.

Exempting retired citizens
The applicant who is a retired citizen and who meets the definition of retirees approved by the competent authority in the state must hold a card proving his affiliation with this category, while highlighting the Emirates ID and vehicle ownership, provided that the exemption is limited to only one vehicle registered in the name of the person in question.

The validity of the above exemptions is for a period of one year only, renewable according to the conditions laid down by the center and the regulations in force in this regard.

In a related context, the Integrated Transport Center announced that the vehicles that are excluded from the application of traffic tariffs are public taxis licensed in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, trailer vehicles, public buses, and school buses registered in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, and all buses specified for the capacity of the licensing authority 26 passengers and above Electric vehicles, Abu Dhabi Police General Command vehicles, Ministry of Interior vehicles, other Emirates local police vehicles, ambulances, armed forces vehicles, civil defense vehicles, and motorcycles.