Owning a car has become expensive for a lot of people. We have seen a steady hike in fuel prices which has escalated the cost of moving in Dubai too. In addition, people in Dubai also have to incur the expense of crossing the Salik toll gates.
How Many Salik Gates Are in Dubai?
Here is a list of Salik gates you can expect to come across in Dubai depending on the route you take.
| Salik Gates in Dubai | Location |
| Jebel Ali | Sheikh Zayed Road |
| Al Safa North | Sheikh Zayed Road |
| Al Safa South | Sheikh Zayed Road |
| Al Barsha | Sheikh Zayed Road |
| Airport Tunnel | Beirut Street |
| Al Maktoum | Al Maktoum Bridge |
| Al Garhoud | Al Garhoud Bridge |
| Al Mamzar North | Al Ittihad Street |
| Al Mamzar South | Al Ittihad Street |
| Business Bay | Al Khail Road |
You will have to pay up to AED 6 every time you cross one of these gates, depending on the time. However, if you cross the Al Mamzar North and South toll gates or Al Safa North and South toll gates within an hour’s difference, in the same direction, you will only have to pay once.
How Much Will Salik Cost Me?
The cost of the Salik tag depends on your work commute and the timings (whether you are passing the gate during peak time or off-peak or regular hours). With the latest development in pricing, now you can expect to pay between AED 0 – AED 6 on passing a toll gate. The following rates are now applicable depending on the time:
Weekdays
- 1am – 6am FREE
- 6am – 10am AED 6
- 10am – 4pm AED 4
- 4pm – 8pm AED 6
- 8pm – 1am AED 4
Sundays
- 1am -6am FREE
- Throughout the rest of the day AED 4
If you typically pass through two Salik gates, your Salik costs will double. For instance, if you are commuting from the Trade Center to Dubai Marina, you will have to pay AED 8 a day, given you are charged AED 4. That calculates to around AED 160 a month.
You can purchase the tag at AED 100 from selected branches of EPPCO/ ENOC, Emarat, or ADNOC petrol stations. If you buy it online, you pay an additional AED 20 for the delivery charges. However, the online option is available for only those vehicles that are registered in the UAE and fall into private and motorcycle plate categories.
The good news is that as yet, there is no rule of 5% VAT on any Salik services!
Recharging the Salik Account
To avoid any violations or forgetting to recharge your account, you can set it up for auto recharge. The service of auto top-up can be availed through banks so confirm with your bank if they offer it or not. Take a look at this article for other options to recharge your Salik account.
Why Did the RTA Set up Toll Gates?
The Roads & Transport Authority (RTA) did it to redistribute the traffic flow on the main roads. Sheikh Zayed Road is intended to be an express traffic corridor. Separating the link between the two Salik toll gates helps reduce the flow of traffic on Sheikh Zayed Road as drivers will find alternative routes (e.g. Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road) to try to avoid the extra charge.
So Is This Good or Bad?
It depends. For a lot of us, it doesn’t make any difference as many of us don’t use both toll gates. But what if your daily commute involves passing through multiple toll gates? If you are willing to pay a little bit extra for a faster commute, this is a good thing. It will cost you AED 100 if you decide to get a Salik tag. Out of that, AED 50 will be added to your account balance.
However, if you are not willing to pay extra, or if you simply don’t have the budget, you can divert to (slower) alternative routes.
