Dubai Salik: What are the updated rules and how to contest penalties

Road toll operator has updated its regulations for motorists travelling in the emirate

The Jebel Ali toll gate, which was opened in 2018, is the most recent addition to Salik's network. Victor Besa / The National

Dubai's road toll operator has set out updated rules of the road for motorists, including caps on annual fines and time limits on contesting financial penalties.

Salik Company, the sole provider of the emirate's traffic charging system, recently posted its latest terms and conditions online.

Tens of thousands of motorists pass through Salik's eight toll gates across the city each day.

About 593 million journeys made on Dubai's roads went through Salik's toll gates in 2023, according to figures released by the company.

The network is to be extended to 10 in November with further toll gates at the Business Bay Crossing on Al Khail Road and in Al Safa South on Sheikh Zayed Road, between Al Meydan and Umm Al Sheif streets.

Toll charges are registered through Salik tags, attached to windscreens, which can be purchased online or at service stations.

These can be topped up online or through recharge cards.

Each time you drive through a Salik toll gate, radio frequency identification technology detects a vehicle and scans the Salik sticker tag.

Motorists are charged Dh4 to pass through each gate and the amount is deducted automatically from the card.

Drivers can set up an online account through the dedicated Salik app to monitor the amount of credit they have remaining and top up when necessary.

Here, The National explains the Salik regulations drivers travelling in Dubai need to know.

Maximum annual fine

The maximum aggregate fine per vehicle for a calendar year should “not exceed Dh10,000”, the terms and conditions specify. This period is defined as running from January 1 to December 31.

Drivers can face penalties for flouting rules. These rules include crossing a toll gate without sufficient balance on your account. A Dh50 fine is imposed if you do not top up your balance sufficiently within five working days. There is a maximum of one breach a day for every vehicle.

Increasing fines for unregistered cars

Motorists who drive through a toll gate without a registered tag on their vehicle and do not register a tag within 10 working days can face a range of fines.

A Dh100 charge is levied for the first breach, rising to Dh200 for the second offence and a Dh400 fine for every subsequent time a vehicles crosses a toll gate while not registered in the Salik system.

There is again a maximum of one breach a day for every vehicle.

Anyone found to have tampered with a Salik tag for fraudulent purposes can be fined Dh10,000.

The same Dh10,000 penalty is also liable for causing damage to a Salik toll gate.

Dormant Salik accounts deactivated

The new terms and conditions specify that a Salik account will be deactivated “if there are no tolls or payments made or balance recharge posted” to it for five years.

The rules also state that any remaining balance will be forfeited when the account becomes inactive.

Disputing a fine

A Salik user can contest a toll breach only if the claim is entered on their traffic file within 13 months of the fine being issued.

Faulty tag

In the case of a Salik tag being found defective, the user must inform Salik within 90 days of noticing the issue. Salik will then replace the tag at no charge.

Lost or stolen tag

If a Salik tag is lost or stolen, the driver must immediately inform Salik, which will then deactivate the tag.

Salik is entitled to continue to deduct any tolls and payments, including fines, from the user’s Salik account.

The driver is required to purchase a new Salik tag to replace the lost or stolen tag.

Once a Salik tag is reported as lost or stolen, it cannot be reactivated or used again.

Why was Salik introduced?

Salik was established in 2007 to ease traffic flow on the emirate's main transport link, Sheikh Zayed Road.

Salik Company was directed to establish the new gates by Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority.

It was established in its current form as a public joint stock company in June 2022. Toll use represents about 87 per cent of its revenue.

Since July 2022, Salik has operated as a separate legal entity from the authority through a 49-year concession agreement.