Dubai is gearing up to activate its tenth Salik toll gate, strategically located at Al Safa South on Sheikh Zayed Road. While the toll gate is now installed, it won’t be operational until the end of November. The gate is positioned between Al Meydan Street and Umm Al Sheif Street, with toll gates on both sides of Sheikh Zayed Road.

Though the gates are already in place, they currently lack markings or decals. However, the familiar Salik structure and silver boards equipped with Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology are present, designed to scan Salik tags on passing vehicles. This new development marks another step in Dubai’s drive toward smarter and more efficient transportation.

Key Details About the New Salik Gate

Salik Company PJSC, Dubai’s exclusive toll gate operator, has yet to release an official statement on the Al Safa South gate. However, CEO Ibrahim Al Haddad confirmed in an interview with Khaleej Times earlier this September that the two new toll gates will be operational by the end of November.

The other new toll gate, the ninth, is situated on Business Bay Crossing along Al Khail Road, another crucial route for managing Dubai’s traffic.

Salik's First Solar-Powered Toll Gates

According to Al Haddad, construction on both new gates is progressing smoothly, and no delays are expected. He highlighted that both gates will be almost 100% solar-powered, a first for Salik, which aligns with Dubai’s push toward sustainable energy solutions. The gates will also feature advanced RFID technology to automatically deduct the Dh4 toll fee from motorists’ prepaid Salik accounts.

The Al Safa South gate will be linked to the existing Al Safa North gate. This means that motorists will only be charged once if they pass through both gates within an hour while traveling in the same direction, similar to the Al Mamzar North and South gates.

Where Are the New Salik Gates Located?

• Al Safa South Gate (Towards Abu Dhabi): After crossing the Dubai Water Canal bridge, the gate is located on Sheikh Zayed Road, right in front of MedCare Orthopedics and Spine Hospital.
• Al Safa South Gate (Towards Sharjah): Positioned between United Arab Bank and Pupil of Fate Motors, it’s found just before the turn to Al Meydan Street or the ramp leading to Al Hadiqa Road toward Jumeirah.

These strategic locations are expected to ease congestion in key areas. According to Al Haddad, the Al Safa South gate will help redistribute traffic from Sheikh Zayed Road to Financial Centre Street and Meydan Street, reducing right-turn traffic to Meydan by 15%. It will also help shift traffic to larger roads like First Al Khail Street and Al Asayel Street.

Similarly, the Business Bay Crossing toll gate is expected to reduce congestion on Al Khail Road by 12-15% and on Al Rabat Street by 10-16%.

Will Salik Fees Increase?

Al Haddad clarified that any changes to Salik fees would require approval from Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) and the Executive Council of Dubai. He emphasized that there is no fixed schedule for the introduction of new toll gates. The decision to implement additional gates or adjust fees depends on the outcomes of traffic and congestion studies carried out by the RTA.

Currently, Dubai operates eight Salik toll gates at strategic locations across the city, including Al Mamzar North, Al Mamzar South, Al Garhoud Bridge, Al Maktoum Bridge, Airport Tunnel, Al Safa, Al Barsha, and Jebel Ali.

Salik's Growing Impact on Dubai’s Roads

Last year, around 593 million journeys passed through Salik’s toll gates. In just the first half of 2024, approximately 238.5 million trips were made, generating Dh1.1 billion in revenue, a 5.6% increase from the same period last year.

With the introduction of these new toll gates and the continuous expansion of Dubai’s road network, the Salik system continues to play a pivotal role in managing traffic flow and enhancing transportation efficiency across the city.