Brace yourself, a new traffic toll system to ease congestion is coming to Abu Dhabi

According to a new law issued by President Sheikh Khalifa on Sunday, road tolls are being introduced in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the UAE.

The new law - No. 17 of 2017 - states that that the Department of Transport (DoT) will be responsible for identifying the areas the tariff will be implemented, the amount to be paid, and the times of the operation.

These suggestions will then be submitted to the General Secretariat of the Executive Council for approval, the Arabic-language newspaper Alittihad reported.

Similar to the existing 'Salik' system in Dubai, the DoT will be responsible for collecting the tariff from vehicle owners that pass through the tolled areas. The ways in which the money will be collected is yet to be determined by the department.

Ambulances, the Armed Forces, Civil Defence, public buses, and motorcycles will be exempt from paying the tariff. 

Motorists who cross a toll and do not pay the fee can face fines of up to a maximum of 10,000 dirhams ($2,700) the law states. However, the total fines imposed on one vehicle cannot exceed 25,000 ($6,800) within a full year from the date of committing the first offense.

The existing electronic toll system is known as 'Salik' and was first introduced in Dubai on July 1, 2007, in a bid to ease traffic on popular and busy roads.