Dubai: New Salik Toll Gate now open; is scheduled to start operating in November – News

Salik Toll Gate after leaving the Dubai Water Canal Bridge towards Abu Dhabi. Photos: Angel Tesorero

Published: Mon. September 30, 2024, 06:00

Last update: Mon. September 30, 2024, 8:56 am

The tenth Salik gate in Dubai – located in Al Safa South – is already operational but not yet operational. Toll gates, located between Al Meydan and Umm Al Sheif streets, have been set up on both sides of Sheikh Zayed Road, The times of Khaleeja learned over the weekend.

There are no stickers or markings yet identifying the toll gates, but they have the same design and silver plates containing radio frequency identification (RFID) technology that will be used to detect and scan Salik tags on passing vehicles.

Salik Company PJSC – the exclusive operator of Dubai toll gates – is yet to issue a new statement regarding the new toll gate, but Salik CEO Ibrahim Al Haddad confirmed that The times of Khaleeja in an exclusive interview conducted in early September that the two new toll plazas would be operational by the end of November.

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The second new Salik – the ninth toll plaza – is located at Business Bay Crossing along Al Khail Road. The exact location was provided by, among others: The times of Khaleeja last month.

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Al Haddad previously said: “Everything is on track and we do not expect any delays” (regarding the construction of new gates).

“Ahead of the commencement of operations, the Dubai Roads and Transport Authority and Salik PJSC will make a further announcement to the public,” he noted, adding: “We are also very pleased to highlight that the two new toll gates will have a capacity of almost 100 people. solar powered, which is new for Salik and something we have been focused on achieving for some time.

Salik also explained earlier: “Similar to the Al Mamzar North and South toll gates, the upcoming Al Safa South toll gate will be connected to the existing Al Safa North toll gate – meaning drivers will only be charged once if they pass through two toll gates in within one hour in the same direction.”

Every time a vehicle passes through a Salik toll gate, RFID technology detects the vehicle and scans the Salik sticker. The Dh4 fare is automatically deducted from the driver’s prepaid account.

Where are they located?

Al Safa’s southern gate on Sheikh Zayed Road towards Abu Dhabi is located after getting off the Dubai Water Canal Bridge, just in front of MedCare Orthopedics and Spine Hospital.

Salik Toll Gate in front of Meydan Road towards Sharjah.

The toll gate on the other side – towards Sharjah – is located between United Arab Bank and Pupil of Fate Motors, before turning right onto Al Meydan Street or before taking the ramp going left onto Al Hadiqa Road towards Jumeirah.

Impact of new toll gates

Al Haddad explained earlier The times of Khaleeja: For the Al Safa South gate, “we expect traffic flow to improve between Financial Center Street and Meydan Street. Will reduce right-hand traffic volume on Sheikh Zayed Road to Meydan Street by 15 percent; and redirect traffic to the larger First Al Khail Street and Al Asayel Street.

He reiterated that the Al Safa South Gate is a technical solution linked to the existing Al Safa North Gate. “This means that only one fee is payable per hour for people crossing the Safa North and South Gates per hour.”

He also explained that with the planned Business Bay Crossing gate, “traffic volume on Al Khail Road is expected to be reduced by 12 to 15 percent while traffic volume on Al Rabat Street is expected to be reduced by 10 to 16 percent.”

Will Salik fees increase?

Al Haddad categorically said: “any tariff adjustments are the decision of the RTA and are subject to the approval of the Dubai Executive Council.”

He also noted that “there is no set timetable for new toll gates” (apart from those opening in November), further explaining that “the introduction of new toll gates depends primarily on traffic and congestion levels and on the results of the technical work and study movement.”

“The aim is to increase transport efficiency in Dubai and improve traffic flow on the road network. The development of fare collection systems – whether by adding gates, adjusting tolls or implementing dynamic pricing – is based on the results of transport strategy assessments reviewed and updated by the RTA. However, any changes to toll rates would require the green light from the Dubai Executive Council,” he explained.

There are currently eight Salik gates operating across Dubai. These are: Al Mamzar North, Al Mamzar South, Al Garhoud Bridge, Al Maktoum Bridge, Airport Tunnel, Al Safa, Al Barsha and Jebel Ali.

Last year, approximately 593 million rides passed through the Salik gates. From January to June this year, 238.5 million journeys were made through the eight toll gates, generating half-year revenue of Dh1.1 billion, up 5.6% on the same period last year.

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