Buying the car isn't the end — it starts an annual admin cycle: insurance renewal → periodic inspection (from year 3) → registration (Mulkiya) renewal. This guide covers that cycle plus road tolls.
Vehicle registration card (Mulkiya)
- The UAE registration card is called the Mulkiya and is valid for one year — it must be renewed annually.
- Prerequisite: valid car insurance (the policy must cover the renewal date).
- Renew online via TAMM (Abu Dhabi's government portal) or the RTA app/site in Dubai.
- Vehicles not yet due for inspection (below) renew fully online with no extra steps.
Periodic inspection (Abu Dhabi)
New cars are exempt for their first two years; from year 3, every registration renewal requires passing a technical inspection. Vehicles under 3 years renew on TAMM with no inspection.
Where to go
- Vehicle inspection centres at ADNOC service stations — the most common route in Abu Dhabi. Many take walk-ins.
- Other authorised centres (Al Masaood and others) also operate.
Editor's tip: not every ADNOC station does inspections. Open the ADNOC app and check whether a station lists Vehicle Inspection among its services before driving over. (Editor's own visit, Abu Dhabi, June 2026)
What to bring · cost
- Vehicle registration card (Mulkiya) — required to register for the test
- AED 150 (periodic test, light vehicle — editor-verified June 2026, matches the published rate)
- Once you pass, the result is filed in the system and registration renewal proceeds directly
Periodic inspection (Dubai)
Dubai works the same way — test at an RTA-authorised centre (Tasjeel and others), then renew. New-vehicle exemption details follow RTA's rules; check your renewal notice.
Salik tolls (Dubai)
Electronic tolling on Dubai's main roads, auto-deducted via a windshield tag.
- Peak (weekdays 06–10 · 16–20): AED 6 per gate
- Off-peak (10–16 · 20–01): AED 4
- Free (01–06); Sundays and public holidays are a flat AED 4 all day
- Abu Dhabi runs a separate system, Darb (bridges into Abu Dhabi island, charged at peak hours only)
Detailed guides still pending
- Buying a car (new · used via Dubizzle · ownership transfer)
- Car insurance: comprehensive vs third-party
- Real annual running costs (fuel · parking · Salik combined)
This guide covers the ownership cycle. For license conversion, see /guides/transport/overview.