Dubai Unveils New Salik Toll Gate Set to be Operational in November

Dubai is set to welcome its tenth Salik toll gate, strategically located in Al Safa South along Sheikh Zayed Road. Although the gate is currently operational, it is not yet active for toll collection.

Positioned between Al Meydan Street and Umm Al Sheif Street, toll gates have been installed on both sides of Sheikh Zayed Road, as reported by Khaleej Times over the weekend.

While the new toll gates lack decals or markings identifying them, they feature a similar structure to existing gates, equipped with silver boards containing Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology. This technology will allow for the detection and scanning of Salik tags as vehicles pass through.

Ibrahim Al Haddad, CEO of Salik Company PJSC, confirmed in an exclusive interview that both new toll gates will be operational by the end of November. He assured that the construction is on schedule, stating,

“Everything is on track, and we are not expecting any delays.”

An official announcement from Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority and Salik PJSC will precede the commencement of operations.

In addition to the Al Safa South gate, a ninth Salik toll gate has been established at Business Bay Crossing along Al Khail Road, as previously reported.

One of the standout features of the new gates is their commitment to sustainability. Al Haddad noted that both new toll gates will be nearly 100% solar-powered, marking a significant step for Salik in promoting environmentally friendly operations.

The Al Safa South toll gate is designed to enhance traffic flow between Financial Centre Street and Meydan Street, expected to reduce right-turn traffic volume from Sheikh Zayed Road to Meydan Street by 15%. Furthermore, it will connect with the existing Al Safa North gate, allowing motorists to be charged only once if they pass through both gates within an hour.

Regarding the newly established toll gates, the Al Safa South gate is located on Sheikh Zayed Road, just after the Dubai Water Canal bridge, in front of MedCare Orthopedics and Spine Hospital. Conversely, the gate in the direction of Sharjah is located between United Arab Bank and Pupil of Fate Motors.

Traffic alleviation is also anticipated with the new Business Bay Crossing gate, which is expected to reduce congestion on Al Khail Road by 12 to 15%, while traffic volume on Al Rabat Street may decrease by 10 to 16%.

When asked about potential increases in Salik fees, Al Haddad clarified that any tariff adjustments would be at the discretion of the RTA and subject to the approval of Dubai’s Executive Council. Currently, eight operational Salik gates exist across Dubai, with approximately 593 million journeys recorded last year. From January to June this year, 238.5 million trips generated Dh1.1 billion in revenue, reflecting a 5.6% increase from the previous year.

News Source: Khaleej Times