Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) will activate two new Salik toll gates on Sunday, 24 November 2024.
These tolls, located at Business Bay Crossing on Al Khail Road and Al Safa South on Sheikh Zayed Road, are designed to reduce congestion and encourage public transport usage.
The additions bring the total number of Salik gates across the emirate to 10.
Here’s everything you need to know about these changes.
Locations
The new Salik gates will be operational at the following points:
- Business Bay Crossing on Al Khail Road.
- Al Safa South on Sheikh Zayed Road, between Al Meydan and Umm Al Sheif streets.
When will they be live?
The gates will officially start functioning from 24 November 2024.
Payment system
Motorists passing through both Al Safa gates—North and South—within an hour will only be charged once. This system mirrors the toll process at the Al Mamzar gates, ensuring seamless travel without incurring multiple charges.
Rumours of dynamic pricing for Salik were refuted in an October filing with the Dubai Financial Market. The toll rate remains at Dh4 per crossing, with no changes planned for time-dependent tariffs.
Alternative routes
To ease the transition and mitigate congestion, the RTA has suggested several alternative routes:
Near Al Safa South:
- Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road (E311).
- Dubai-Al Ain Road (E66).
- Ras Al Khor Road (E44).
- Al Manama Street (D77/D67).
For Business Bay Crossing:
- Infinity Bridge (D85).
- Al Shindagha Tunnel (D92).
Benefits of new Salik gates
The RTA’s initiative aims to redirect traffic to less congested roads, alleviating pressure on key routes.
- Business Bay Crossing: Expected to reduce traffic on Al Khail Road by 15% (2,053 vehicles/hour) and cut travel time on the stretch between Rabat Street and Ras Al Khor Road by 20,000 hours daily.
- Al Safa South Gate: Will lower traffic volumes on Sheikh Zayed Road by 4% and reduce right-turn traffic onto Meydan Street by 15%.
Solar-powered innovation
The new gates mark a milestone in sustainability, being the first Salik gates to operate on solar power. Chief Executive Ibrahim Al Haddad stated, "Plans are under way to power all Salik gates by solar energy over the next few years."
The toll system’s broader goal is to enhance public transport use. Since its introduction in 2007, Salik has contributed to a 9-million-passenger annual increase in public transport ridership and reduced city-wide travel time by 6 million hours annually.