Definition
The Department of Transport (DoT) Abu Dhabi — operating within the Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT) — is the government authority responsible for the comprehensive planning, regulation, and management of surface transport, maritime operations, and freight logistics across the Abu Dhabi emirate. The department establishes transport policy, oversees road network development, manages public transit services, regulates taxis and ride-hailing operators, administers vehicle licensing, and coordinates freight and logistics infrastructure. Through its subsidiary, the Integrated Transport Centre (ITC), the department directly operates public bus networks, school transport services, and the Darb toll system.
UAE Context
Abu Dhabi’s transport governance has evolved through several institutional restructurings to keep pace with the capital’s rapid urban growth. The current structure places transport authority under the broader Department of Municipalities and Transport, integrating urban planning, infrastructure development, and mobility management under a unified strategic umbrella. This integration enables coordinated land-use and transport planning, ensuring that new residential developments, commercial districts, and cultural destinations on islands like Saadiyat, Yas, and Reem are served by adequate road networks, public transit, and active mobility infrastructure. The department manages a fleet of over 1,000 public buses operating across Abu Dhabi city, Al Ain, and intercity routes. It also regulates the taxi sector, licences ride-hailing services like Uber and Careem, oversees maritime transport including ferry services, and administers commercial vehicle permitting for the emirate’s freight and logistics sector.
Key Data
- Parent entity: Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT)
- Operating subsidiary: Integrated Transport Centre (ITC)
- Public bus fleet: Over 1,000 buses across city, suburban, and intercity routes
- Regulatory scope: Roads, public transit, taxis, ride-hailing, maritime, freight, school transport
- Digital platforms: DARB app, Abu Dhabi Taxi booking, TAMM government services portal
- Key programmes: Darb toll system, Abu Dhabi Metro planning, bus rapid transit expansion
- Geographic coverage: Abu Dhabi city, Al Ain, Al Dhafra, island developments
Significance for Vision 2031
The Department of Transport Abu Dhabi is central to delivering the mobility infrastructure that underpins the capital’s economic growth and liveability goals within Vision 2031. The department’s Surface Transport Master Plan sets the strategic framework for transitioning Abu Dhabi from a car-dependent city to a multimodal metropolis with integrated metro, bus rapid transit, cycling, and pedestrian networks. Its role in planning the Abu Dhabi Metro, managing the Darb congestion-pricing system, and expanding public bus services directly supports sustainability targets including reduced vehicle emissions, improved air quality, and higher public transit mode share. The department’s freight and logistics regulation also supports Abu Dhabi’s goal of becoming a global trade and industrial hub through efficient supply chain connectivity.
Related Terms
- Abu Dhabi Metro — The planned urban rail system under DoT oversight
- Darb — Abu Dhabi’s electronic toll system operated by the ITC
- Etihad Rail — The national railway connecting Abu Dhabi to other emirates
- TAMM — Abu Dhabi’s digital government platform for transport and municipal services