Two New Salik Toll Gates in Dubai Launch This Month

Dubai is set to activate two new Salik toll gates this month, adding to its toll road system aimed at managing city traffic flow. Located on the Business Bay Crossing on Al Khail Road and in Al Safa South on Sheikh Zayed Road, these new toll points will bring the total number of Salik gates in the emirate to 10.

Targeting Traffic Congestion

The new toll gates were introduced after extensive traffic studies and are expected to significantly improve traffic conditions. The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) projects the Business Bay toll gate to cut congestion by up to 15%, while the Al Safa South gate is anticipated to reduce traffic by around the same amount.

Ibrahim Al Haddad, CEO of Salik, highlighted these gates as essential for Salik’s growth plan since its public listing. “The addition of new toll gates in two increasingly busy locations marks the latest milestone in the growth plan,” he said earlier this year.

RTA’s road toll strategy has already yielded positive results in reducing traffic in other high-traffic areas. Dubai’s existing toll gates help reduce travel times by millions of hours annually and improve traffic flow on key routes like Sheikh Zayed Road and Al Ittihad Street.

Salik's Role in Revenue and Development

Salik has grown to become an essential part of Dubai’s transportation strategy. Operating as an independent entity since June 2022, Salik tolls make up about 87% of the company's revenue. Through a separate agreement with the RTA, Salik secured a 49-year concession to continue its operations. Its public listing last year raised $1 billion, with heavy investor demand underscoring the importance of Salik’s role in Dubai’s transit landscape.

Additionally, Salik technology is now used in partnerships like the parking system at Dubai Mall, where toll tags enable seamless, ticket-free parking fee collection.

Why Salik Toll Gates?

Since its introduction in 2007, Salik has aimed to reduce congestion and raise state revenue. Passing through a Salik gate costs motorists Dh4, automatically deducted from their Salik account. These gates are positioned strategically to ease heavy traffic on Dubai’s main roads, and they encourage the use of alternative routes, helping streamline traffic city-wide.

The introduction of each gate has had a positive impact; for example, the Jebel Ali toll gate, installed in 2018, reduced traffic in that area by about 25%. Alongside these toll systems, the RTA continues to develop public transit options to support a long-term vision of reduced car dependency.

Current Salik Gate Locations

For reference, here’s where Dubai’s existing Salik gates are located:

• Al Barsha
• Al Garhoud
• Al Maktoum
• Al Mamzar South
• Al Mamzar North
• Al Safa
• Airport Tunnel
• Jebel Ali

With the latest additions on Al Khail and Sheikh Zayed Roads, Salik’s growing network is aligned with Dubai’s broader strategy of reducing congestion and supporting sustainable transit growth in the emirate.