Dubai
2023/12/18
Anyone who has lived in Dubai for a while will tell you that it's a laid-back city in the UAE. Dubai puts a lot of priority on ensuring the comfort of its residents. One of the many ways it provides convenience is by introducing the Salik toll system.
The Salik toll system introduced by the Road and Transport Authority (RTA) aims to reduce motorists' wait time when paying toll fees. Through the years, the Salik tag has been a success with increased adoption. So, whether you're new in Dubai, taking a taxi or bus, or rent luxury car, it's essential to understand the Salik toll system and how it affects you.
The Salik tag is an innovative technology introduced by the RTA in the third quarter of 2007. The Salik tag is a device based on radio frequency identifier technology that uses electromagnetic fields to track and identify markers. This device is named Salik, an Arabic word that means moving and clear because of how the technology works.
Ideally, when a motorist gets this tag, it is attached to the vehicle's windscreen. So, when you approach any Salik toll gate, you don't need to stop to pay the toll. As long as sufficient funds are in your Salik account, it will be automatically deducted. This device thus helps reduce traffic congestion due to waiting for the toll fee.
An important question many people often ask when trying to figure out how the Salik tag works is about the Salik toll gates. Not all toll gates in Dubai use the Salik tag. But as of the time of this article's writing, up to eight toll gates use the Salik tag. These toll gates are strategically located across the city to help curb traffic congestion.
Only two toll gates were installed when this innovation was introduced into the transport system. One of the toll gates is near the Al Garhoud Bridge and is named the Al Garhoud Salik Gate. The other one near the Mall of Emirates is on Sheikh Zayed Road, one of the longest roads in the Emirates, named Jebel Ali Salik Gate.
In September 2008, the RTA launched two more gates to work with existing gates. One was placed at Safa Park, named the Al Safa Salik Gate, while the other was on Maktoum Bridge, named Al Maktoum Salik Gate.
Fast forward to April 2013, the RTA launched three more gates in two more locations. One gate was placed on Beirut Street named the Airport Tunnel Salik Gate. At the same time, two gates were placed on the Al-Ittihad road called the Al Mamzar North Salik Gate and the Al Mamzar South Salik Gate. The eighth gate, the Al Barsha Salik Gate, was commissioned in February 2018 by the RTA.
Now that you are enlightened on how this tag works, what may likely pop into your mind next is how to get yourself one. Interestingly, getting this tag is seamless as the RTA has provided two ways motorists can order for one, depending on which method they find most convenient. You can either purchase the tag online or through an authorized dealer.
Purchasing the tag online is the easiest way to get one. Through this method, you do not have to leave the comfort of your home. All you need is to visit the website, provide all the necessary details, and have the tag delivered to the address you provided.
The best part about using this method is that the processing time is about 5 minutes.
Alternatively, you can head to any RTA-authorized dealer to purchase the tag. These authorized dealers are mostly gas stations, namely ADNOC, ENOC, EPPCO, and Emarat, to name a few. You can also get it from banks like Emirates NBD and Dubai Islamic Bank. If you purchase the tag through any authorized dealer, you do not have to provide details of your vehicle registration card.
When you pass through a Salik gate, you get charged 4 Dirhams. Although there are some exceptions where you can pass two gates and pay the price of one, terms and conditions are attached to it. When you are out of credit on your tag, it's important to recharge as soon as possible, especially if you go out often. Passing a gate with an empty tag balance can attach fines.
Recharging the tag is as straightforward as purchasing it. There are many mediums that you can use to recharge. But the most commonly used are through the Salik website or authorized dealers like gas stations and banks. You can recharge the tag up to 50,000 Dirhams. This credit can remain on your account for five years.
Every country has its own strategy for toll collection. The toll collection enables the government to get the necessary revenue to maintain the infrastructural facilities of the region. As such, any motorist in Dubai must have a Salik tag to drive around seamlessly.
While there are alternative routes you can take to avoid some of the charges, some of these routes are not exactly up to par, and there could be traffic congestion. So, it pays to invest in a Salik tag and attach it below your rearview mirror to grant you passage through any route in Dubai.