Dubai to Launch 2 New Salik Toll Gates Starting November 24

Salik PJSC announced that two new Salik toll gates will begin operations on Sunday, November 24. These gates, the Business Bay Gate and the Al Safa South Gate, will be located at Business Bay Crossing on Al Khail Road and Sheikh Zayed Road, respectively, bringing the total number of toll gates in Dubai from eight to ten.

Using this bridge to reach Al Khail Road, one of Dubai's busiest highways, drivers arriving from Sharjah, Al Nahda, and Al Qusais mostly follow the Business Bay gate. Ibrahim Al Haddad, Salik's CEO, clarified that these changes are meant to help with congestion; the new toll gates should cut traffic on some roads by up to 16 percent.

Al Haddad claims the additional charges should improve traffic flow. Particularly, the Business Bay Crossing gate is expected to reduce traffic on Al Khail Road by about 12 to 15 percent and on Al Rabat Street by 10 to 16 percent.The Al Safa South Gate seeks to cut right-turn traffic volume from Sheikh Zayed Road onto Meydan Street by 15%. Apart from directing more vehicles to Al Asayel Street and First Al Khail Street, this gate aims to enhance traffic flow between Financial Center Street and Meydan Street. 

Al Haddad also pointed out that the Al Safa South Gate is technically connected to the North Al Safa Gate already in use. Drivers passing the northern and southern Al Safa Gates within an hour will only pay one toll payment.

Furthermore, these new toll gates will be practically totally solar-powered, representing a sustainable development for Salik in line with Dubai's green energy targets. This action shows Salik's will to include eco-friendly methods into its business.

Rumors on social media had suggested Salik would use dynamic toll charging according on peak and off-peak times. Based on traffic, the post claims costs would vary from free to AED 8. Salik, though, discounted these assertions as untrue. Al Haddad highlighted that any decision on toll fee adjustments rests with Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) and requires Dubai Executive Council clearance.

Every time a car passes any toll gate in Dubai, a fixed price of AED 4 is paid now. With around 593 million visits through Salik gates last year, the tolls brought in major income. From January to June this year, 238.5 million trips were registered via the toll gates, generating half-year income of AED 1.1 billion—a 5.6 percent rise over the same period last year.

Al Haddad said that there is no defined timetable for future installations outside the two new toll gates opening in November when asked about the prospect of installing more gates. Traffic patterns, congestion levels, and results of technical and traffic studies guide the decision to add more tolls. The main goals are to maximize traffic flow and improve road network efficiency for Dubai.

He also underlined that recommendations from transportation studies carried out by the RTA will determine any choice to extend tolling through more gates, changed prices, or even dynamic pricing. These evaluations are examined to fit Dubai's transportation plan; any changes would need Executive Council approval.

By means of these initiatives, Salik keeps giving top priority to efficient traffic management in Dubai, making sure that operations at toll gates complement the larger goals of the city for sustainable development and effective transportation.