Salik in Dubai: toll gates, prices and how to pay (2026)

Salik is Dubai’s automatic road toll: a small tag on your windscreen is read as you drive under a toll gate, and the charge comes off your prepaid Salik balance. Since 1 June 2026 a crossing costs AED 6.30 at peak times (6am to 10am and 4pm to 8pm, Monday to Saturday), AED 4.20 at other times, and nothing between 1am and 6am, because 5% VAT is now added to the AED 6 and AED 4 base tolls. There are 10 gates, and a new tag costs AED 100 at a petrol station or AED 120 online, plus VAT on the activation fee.

If you drive in Dubai for more than a few days, Salik becomes part of everyday life. Here is how it works, what it costs, where the gates are, and how to stay clear of fines, whether you own a car, lease one or are just renting for a weekend.

How does Salik work?

Salik means “open” or “clear” in Arabic, and the idea is that traffic never stops. There are no barriers or booths. Each gate has readers for the RFID tag stuck to your windscreen, plus cameras that read your number plate if the tag is missing or not read.

Every car registered in Dubai that uses the toll roads needs an active Salik tag linked to a Salik account. You load credit onto the account, and each time you pass under a gate the toll is deducted automatically. You get an SMS or app notification, and you can see every trip in the Salik app or on the Salik website.

The same Salik account can also be used to pay for parking at some locations, starting with Dubai Mall in 2024, which saves fiddling with another app.

How much does Salik cost in 2026?

Salik moved from a flat AED 4 to variable, time-based pricing on 31 January 2025. Then, from 1 June 2026, Salik started adding 5% VAT to every toll and to tag activation fees, as reported by Time Out Dubai and The National. The time windows themselves did not change.

The Sunday rate does not automatically apply on public holidays, special occasions or major events. On those days Salik announces its own timings, so check the Salik website or app before a holiday drive. For a quick estimate of your weekly cost, use our Salik toll calculator, and if you want to work out VAT on other bills, try the VAT calculator.

Are Salik times different in Ramadan?

Yes. During Ramadan, Salik shifts its windows to match the changed daily routine. In recent Ramadans the peak rate applied from 9am to 5pm, the lower rate from 7am to 9am and from 5pm to 2am, and tolls were free from 2am to 7am. Salik announces the exact Ramadan timings each year, usually shortly before the month starts.

Where are the Salik toll gates?

Dubai has 10 Salik gates. The two newest, Business Bay Crossing and Al Safa South, went live in November 2024.

Sheikh Zayed Road has four gates, so a drive from Dubai Marina to Downtown and back can add up quickly at peak times. Your navigation app usually shows tolled routes, and Al Khail Road or Emirates Road may be worth considering depending on where you are going.

What is the Salik one-hour rule?

Some gates are paired, so you are not charged twice for what is really one stretch of road. According to Gulf News, the rule works like this:

• Al Mamzar North and Al Mamzar South: pass both in the same direction within one hour and you pay once.
• Al Safa North and Al Safa South: pass both in the same direction within one hour and you pay once.

The rule does not cover Al Maktoum Bridge and Al Garhoud Bridge. Crossing either of those is charged each time, and so is every other gate.

How do you get and register a Salik tag?

If your car is registered in Dubai, follow these steps:

1. Buy a tag. Tags are sold at authorised petrol stations such as ENOC, ADNOC and Emarat for AED 100 (AED 50 for the tag and AED 50 of toll credit), or online through Salik for AED 120, which adds AED 20 for delivery, according to Property Finder. Since June 2026, 5% VAT also applies to the activation fee, so check the current price at the counter or online.
2. Stick it on. Fix the tag to the inside of your windscreen as shown on the pack. Do not move it between cars.
3. Activate it. Use the Salik website or app (or the RTA’s driver app). You need your vehicle registration card, the tag number printed on the back of the tag, the mobile number used at purchase and the purchase date. Company cars also need a trade licence copy.
4. Top up. Keep a balance that covers your usual week of driving.

Do this quickly. If you drive through a gate without a registered tag, you have 10 working days from your first trip to register and activate one before fines start.

How do you top up Salik?

You can recharge by credit or debit card in the Salik app or on the website, set up automatic top-ups through your bank, use Salik recharge cards, or pay cash at kiosks and at some bank cash deposit machines. Auto top-up is worth setting up, because a low balance is the most common reason people get fined. We list other useful apps for drivers in our must-have apps for Dubai.

What are the Salik fines?

Salik fines are lower than many traffic fines, but they add up if you ignore them. These are the main ones, from Gulf News and The National:

A few rules soften the blow. Only one violation per day is counted for each vehicle, and total Salik fines for one vehicle are capped at AED 10,000 per calendar year. If you think a fine is wrong, you can dispute it, but only within 13 months of it being added to your traffic file. Report a faulty tag within 90 days and Salik replaces it for free. One more thing to know: an account with no trips, payments or top-ups for five years is deactivated and any balance left is lost.

How does Salik work with rental cars and taxis?

Rental cars in Dubai already have a registered Salik tag. You do not need to buy anything. The rental company records your crossings and adds them to your final bill, usually with an administration fee per crossing or per rental. These fees vary a lot between companies, so ask about them when you collect the car and check your deposit statement afterwards.

In Dubai taxis, any Salik toll on your route is added to the fare at the end of the trip. If you are visiting and planning a road trip, our road trips in the UAE and trip budget planner help you plan for tolls, fuel and parking.

How is Salik different from Darb in Abu Dhabi?

Abu Dhabi has its own toll system, called Darb, and it works quite differently. If you drive between the two emirates, you may use both.

Cars registered outside Abu Dhabi, including Dubai cars, should be registered on the Darb platform so tolls can be taken from a Darb wallet, as explained by Gulf News. Outstanding Darb tolls have to be cleared before you can renew or change your car registration. Check Darb’s own website for the latest fees, since its rules have changed several times. Heading over for the day? See our things to do in Abu Dhabi.

Tips to spend less on Salik

1. Shift your timing. The same crossing costs AED 4.20 at 10am and AED 6.30 at 9am. Leaving after 10am or before 6am makes a real difference over a month.
2. Use the paired gates wisely. Passing both Al Safa gates, or both Al Mamzar gates, in one direction within an hour counts once.
3. Compare routes. Al Khail Road and Emirates Road can avoid some Sheikh Zayed Road gates, though not every trip.
4. Set up auto top-up. It is the simplest way to avoid AED 50 low-balance fines.
5. Consider the Metro. For trips along Sheikh Zayed Road at rush hour, the Metro can work out cheaper and calmer once you add tolls, fuel and parking. If you are working out your monthly costs, our guide to the cost of living in the UAE puts transport in context.

Last checked: October 2026. Rules and fees in the UAE change; confirm on the official pages above before you rely on them.