All about the Department of Transport Abu Dhabi (DoT)
The Department of Transport Abu Dhabi (DoT) is responsible for all aspects of transport development and policy in the country’s capital. Its mission statement is to deliver an efficient transport system in Abu Dhabi. The city’s transport responsibilities were previously handled by the Departments of Civil Aviation, General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) Department of Municipal Affairs and Sea Ports Authority (SPA).
What are the services offered by the Abu Dhabi Department of Transport? What is Mawaqif and how can residents make the best of their services? To find out all this and more, take a look at our complete guide to the DoT in Abu Dhabi.
ABOUT THE ITC
Established in 2016 according to a law passed by His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Integrated Transport Centre (ITC) is affiliated with the Department of Municipalities and Transport. Its responsibilities include the operation of public transport, management of parking spaces and traffic monitoring.
SERVICES BY THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORT IN ABU DHABI
A variety of transport services exist under the DoT’s umbrella of services — all of which are designed to make your commutes across the city and the rest of the UAE convenient, affordable and more efficient. Amongst these, the following main services make up most of the department’s offerings:
ABU DHABI TOLL GATES
A recent addition to the DoT, the Abu Dhabi toll gate system has been in operation since 2019. Similar to Salik in Dubai, motorists have to register for the Abu Dhabi Salik account online for which they will need to visit the official website of the ITC.
The Abu Dhabi toll gate system is one of the many initiatives by the Department of Transport to reduce traffic congestion in major roads in the emirate. The processes for registering personal and company cars vary, a complete guide of which can be found on our tips for how to register Abu Dhabi Salik.
MAWAQIF
Like in the rest of the UAE, public parking is paid in Abu Dhabi and is regulated by Mawaqif. The Mawaqif programme is a paid parking system that was launched in 2009 by the Department of Transport Abu Dhabi for establishing streamlined car parking management and to make it easier for drivers to find parking spots in the city.
A multi-phased programme, Mawaqif parking areas are classified into Premium and Standard parking which can be paid for either with cash or with the Mawaqif’s rechargeable cards. Additionally, residents can also use the service to apply for residential parking, permits for using land as paid parking, to pay parking fines and more. To find out how Mawaqif works in Abu Dhabi, check out our guide on SMS Mawaqif in Abu Dhabi.
PUBLIC TRANSPORT
The emirate of Abu Dhabi is made up of a diverse range of communities. And connecting them all is the DoT Abu Dhabi public transport system. Public transportation services in Abu Dhabi are categorized under taxi services, public buses and the ferry service.
PUBLIC BUSES
Abu Dhabi bus services operate round the clock, are accessible for people with disabilities and are fully air-conditioned to keep passengers comfortable. The fare is also free for senior citizens (aged 60 and above). Regular passengers can pay the fare via collection boxes placed next to drivers.
To make bus transport easier, the Department of Transport Abu Dhabi enables passengers to pay for their fare via Hafilat smart cards. Depending on personal requirements, you can choose from six types of Hafilat cards. For example, visitors can opt for the Temporary Card which has a limit of 14 days with the option of topping up their cards if their stay has been extended. Applications for cards can be made on the ITC website.
TAXI SERVICES
Taxis are a huge part of the city’s public transport system with special ones reserved for women and disabled passengers. Apart from Abu Dhabi taxis, other services in this regard include limousine, airport taxis and more. Reasonably priced and plentiful, customers can order rides by downloading the Abu Dhabi taxi app from the Google Play or App Store.
FERRY SERVICE
Also under the operation of the Department of Transport Abu Dhabi is the city’s ferry service. Two passenger ferries are available that go from the city to Delma Island and back. The fee varies and passengers are required to have valid documents before they can board.
FREIGHT
Managing air, sea, road and rail freight is part of the list of responsibilities by the DoT. Here is a general overview of three of the major ones:
- Road freight: Connects nearly all origin destinations and centres of freight demand by road.
- Airfreight: There has been tremendous growth in the country’s air freight industry thanks to the rising value of domestic economic activity in the emirate.
- Sea freight: Abu Dhabi is home to one of the country’s primary port locations, Mina Zayed with freight managed from major ports in the UAE.
TRAFFIC AND ROADS SERVICE
The DoT regulates traffic and roads services in the capital. Currently, the services provided by the ITC include:
- Traffic Detours Permit: After proper registration, this service allows contractors to issue a Traffic Detours Permit. Users can apply for new permits and receive them online.
- Clearance certificate for public property damage: In case of accidents which lead to damaged public property, this service can be used to acquire a clearance certificate to present to the police.
PARK AND RIDE
One of the initiatives from the Mobility Management programme, the Park and Ride service’s purpose is to reduce the public’s reliance on private vehicles. The move is meant to give motorists the chance to opt for a more sustainable option with the aim to reduce traffic congestion and encourage them to:
- Use other modes of transport apart from private vehicles
- Reduce parking demand
- Minimise negative environmental impacts caused by the use of private vehicles in the city
How it works is simple enough. Drivers with the appropriate “Park and Ride” permits can park their vehicles at dedicated parking spaces and enjoy a free ride on a bus from the service. This is provided that the companies they work for have signed up for the Park and Ride service.
It’s a good way for the Department of Transport in Abu Dhabi to keep traffic conditions stable in one of the country’s busiest cities and reduce the cost of commute for working individuals. Currently, Park and Ride service locations in Abu Dhabi include Zayed Sports City, Corniche, Heritage Park and Umm Al Emarat Park.
ROAD SERVICE PATROL (RSP)
Launched in 2009, the Road Service Patrol and Towing Service is a free initiative. The job of the RSP is to remove incapacitated vehicles by the city’s main roads and prevent traffic conditions from getting worse during incidents. With the Towing service, the RSP aims to:
- Use specialised towing vehicles to move vehicles obstructing the carriageway and ensure smooth flow of traffic
- Provide support to events that impact traffic flow
- Manage traffic for closures and detours which may affect traffic flow
- Manage traffic in case of any incident and secure incident scene to minimize congestion
HOW TO CONTACT THE ABU DHABI DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORT?
Those who want to contact the DoT for information on applying for parking permits or any other purpose can refer to the following Abu Dhabi transport authority toll-free number and address:
- Contact: +971-800-88888
- ITC Address: Al Maqta area, adjacent to Fairmont Bab Al Bahr Hotel – Abu Dhabi
- Timings: 07:30 am to 03:30 pm | Closed on Friday and Saturday
We hope our guide for the Department of Transport in Abu Dhabi helps you navigate the many services it offers to keep the capital’s roads safe and facilitate a seamless commute. Interested in Mawaqif parking? Our guide for SMS Mawaqif in Abu Dhabi can make it easier for you to pay parking fees in the capital. Are you confused about how the toll gate system works? Check out our guide for Salik in Abu Dhabi. Keeping Abu Dhabi traffic fines in mind will also give you that extra incentive to avoid possible traffic indiscretions in the emirate.
For more information on government departments in the UAE, stay tuned to MyBayut.
