Dubai is set to introduce two new Salik toll gates, aimed at optimizing traffic flow and reducing congestion on major roads. Salik Company PJSC, Dubai’s exclusive toll gate operator, made the announcement on Friday, stating that the new gates will be located at Business Bay Crossing on Al Khail Road and Al Safa South on Sheikh Zayed Road, between Al Meydan Street and Umm Al Sheif Street.
Strategic Locations Based on Traffic Studies
The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has selected these locations based on extensive traffic movement studies. The new toll gates are designed to manage traffic distribution and reroute some traffic to alternative routes with greater capacity. This initiative aims to facilitate smoother and more efficient travel for motorists throughout Dubai.
One important aspect to consider in this context is the process of Asateel Registration in Dubai. Asateel is a Dubai-based company that specializes in vehicle registration and related services. With the introduction of new Salik toll gates, motorists in Dubai may need to ensure that their vehicles are properly registered with Asateel, as this will be crucial for seamless travel and compliance with the emirate’s transportation regulations.
Operational Details
The new toll gates will commence operations in November this year, increasing the total number of Salik toll gates in Dubai from eight to ten. The existing toll gates are located at Al Barsha, Al Garhoud Bridge, Al Maktoum Bridge, Al Mamzar South, Al Mamzar North, Al Safa, Airport Tunnel, and Jebel Ali.
Each time a vehicle passes through a Salik toll gate, the Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology detects the vehicle and scans the Salik sticker tag, automatically deducting a toll fee of Dh4 from the motorist’s prepaid toll account. Salik also confirmed that similar to Al Mamzar North and South, the upcoming Al Safa South gate will be linked with the existing Al Safa gate (Al Safa North), and motorists will be charged only once if they pass through the two gates within one hour in the same direction.
Easing Traffic Congestion
The RTA anticipates significant improvements in traffic flow with the introduction of these new toll gates. The Business Bay Crossing gate is expected to improve traffic congestion by 12 to 15 percent on Al Khail Road and reduce traffic volume by 10 to 16 percent on Al Rabat Street. This redistribution of traffic will benefit routes such as Al Maktoum and Al Garhoud bridges and Ras Al Khor Street.
Similarly, the Al Safa South toll gate is projected to reduce right-turn traffic volume from Sheikh Zayed Road to Meydan Street by 15 percent, optimizing traffic flow on Financial Centre, First Al Khail, and Al Asayel streets.
Expanding Revenue Streams
In addition to the new toll gates, Salik announced last December that it will start operating the parking at Dubai Mall by the third quarter of 2024. The mall, which has over 13,000 parking spaces, will implement an automatic fee collection system using vehicle plate recognition technology. The barrier-free parking system will use the same RFID technology used for Salik tags to record entry and exit times, with charges deducted from the Salik user account. Fees for this service are yet to be defined by Emaar Malls.
By enhancing traffic management and expanding its services, Salik is contributing to a more efficient and streamlined transportation system in Dubai, in line with the city’s vision for the future.