All you need to know about Salik in Dubai

Salik is Dubai's automatic road toll collection system. Put in place in 2007, the scheme, which means "clear and moving" in Arabic,  consists of seven toll gates set up around the city.
Dubai's Road and Transport Authority (RTA) designed Salik as a free-flowing system, so you don't need to stop your car at any point on a Dubai highway and pay manually. Everything is done automatically - there are no toll booths, barriers or physical gates, so you drive straight through the toll gate at normal highway speed.
Salik is a cashless transaction. All you need is a Salik tag. The Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology detects your vehicle and scans your Salik tag. Each time your vehicle passes through a Salik toll point, Dh4 is automatically deducted from your prepaid Salik toll account. Please note that holder of the Salik account is solely responsible for all the trips that are made through the Salik tolling points, irrespective of who is driving.
Salik can be purchased online (www.salik.gov.ae) and it will be delivered directly to you or you can buy it from petrol stations, Dubai Islamic Bank or Emirates NBD Bank.
Before 2013, there was a maximum charge of Dhs24 per day per car but since 2013 there has been no limit on how much a vehicle can be charged for passing through Salik per day. So, if you go through 10 gates in a single day, expect to be charged Dh40.
According to the RTA, you're only exempted from toll fees if your vehicle is registered as a military or police vehicle or is an ambulance, school, college or RTA public bus. If you are under 'the Determined Ones' umbrella, you are also exempted.
Moreover, early this year, the RTA has clarified that value-added tax (VAT) will not be levied on Salik (toll gates) or public transport facilities. Passengers and commuters of public transport facilities like the buses, metro, tram and maritime transport, as well as cab passengers, will also not be subject to VAT.

Salik app, website and toll-free number

> Smart Salik mobile app: You can download from Apple App Store (http://goo.gl/K1Gq4E) and Google Play (http://goo.gl/FzYvjA) or simply scan the QR code
> www.salik.gov.ae is the Salik website
> 800-Salik (72545) is the 24-hour toll-free number

Fast Facts

> 540 cars per 1,000 people  - Dubai's vehicle density (Dubai's population is 2.9m as of January 2018)
> 740,000 - registered cars in Dubai in 2006
> 1.4m - registered cars in Dubai at the end of 2014 (for an average annual increase of 8.2 per cent, which is one of the highest in the world)
> 2.22m - expected number of vehicles in Dubai in 2020
> 450,000 vehicles enter Dubai on an average every day from other emirates, with the city welcoming 40,000 vehicles in the morning peak hours every day.

Salik FAQs

How it Works
First, you need to stick a Salik sticker tag to the windshield of your car, approximately 1 cm below the rearview mirror. The sticker is linked to your prepaid Salik account. The Salik sensor picks up the small Salik sticker tag stuck to your wind shield of your vehicle. Each time you drive through a toll gate the Salik sensor will ping the sticker on your car and deduct the Dh4 fee from your account. Just make sure your prepaid account has enough money in it to cover your Salik charges before you hit the road.
What's my speed when passing through Salik gate?
Just keep driving at normal highway speeds. You don't need to stop or even slow down when you pass through a Salik toll gate. Salik is a cleverly designed, free flow tolling system that works automatically - so you never get stuck at a toll booth, barrier or gate on a Dubai highway. 
Where are the Salik gates?
1. Al Barsha on Sheikh Zayed Road - Dh4 per pass
2. Al Safa on Sheikh Zayed Road - Dh4 per pass
(note: Al Safa and Al Barsha are individual toll gates with a toll fee of Dh4 for each toll gate.
3. Al Garhoud Bridge on Sheikh Rashid Road - Dh4 per pass
4. Al Maktoum Bridge on Umm Hurair Road - Dh4 per pass and free from 10pm Thursday to 6am Saturday
5. Al Mamzar North - Dh4 per pass
6. Al Mamzar South - Dh4 per pass
(note) When Passing through Al Mamzar South and North gates in the same direction within an hour you will be charged only once.
7. Airport Tunnel on Beirut Street - Dh4 per pass 
Are Salik gates free on public holidays?
No. All Salik gates are active every day. The only exception is the Al Maktoum bridge which is free at night and on Fridays. 
If I pass through an Al Mamzar gate and then the Airport Tunnel gate, will I be charged at both gates?
Yes
If I pass through one Al Mamzar gate, take the next exit and return through the Salik toll gate on the opposite side of the road, will I be charged at both gates?
Yes

Dos and don'ts when using Salik

1-The Salik tag should be used on the vehicle that it has been assigned to on the Salik application.
2- Moving the same tag on another vehicle is an absolute no-no.
3- The authorities concerned should be informed if the vehicle's number plate or the user's/driver's mobile number changes.
4- A Salik tag should be bought and placed on the vehicles windshield within the first 10 working days of using Salik.
5- In case of insufficient funds, the Salik account should be recharged within five working days.

Salik violations

1. Insufficient Funds (ISF Violation)
Dh50 penalty - If you drive through a Salik toll gate with insufficient funds in your Salik account and you don't recharge your account within five working days. There is a maximum one violation per day if you travel through multiple times during the day. 
2. Unregistered Plate (URP Violation)
If you drive through a Salik toll gate without a registered Salik tag on your vehicle and you don't buy and register one with within 10 working days, you'll get a fine:
. Dh100 the first time,
. Dh 200 the second time, and
. Dh 400 each subsequent time you drive through a toll gate.
There is a maximum one Violation per day if you travel through multiple times during the day.

Salik cost

Setting up a Salik account - Dh50 for the Salik tag and Dh50 for the prepaid toll balance that will be added to the Salik account.
Recharge limits - Dh50 to Dh50,000
Delivery of Salik tag when purchased online- Dh20
Passage through each toll gate - Dh4

How top up Salik account?

Log on to www.salik.gov.ae and follow the prompts there.
Other options include, downloading the Smart Salik app; calling the 800-SALIK (72545) toll free number, buying a Salik top-up card from any Dubai petrol station, via the MPay app or any of the various smart kiosks located around the city. The minimum recharge amount is Dhs50. 

Vehicles exempted from Salik toll fees

Military vehicle
Police vehicle
Ambulance
RTA public bus
School bus
College bus
Those under the 'Determined Ones' umbrella are also exempted.
angel@khaleejtimes.com

• UAE
• Dubai

Angel Tesorero

angel@khaleejtimes.com