UAE | Traffic and Transport

Salik comes into effect

The much-heralded Salik road toll system has come into effect today - although as late as Saturday many motorists were yet to buy their special tags.

  • By Daniel Bardsley, Staff Reporter
  • Published: 00:35 July 1, 2007
  • Gulf News

  • The much-heralded Salik road toll system has come into effect on Sunday.
  • Image Credit: Hadrian Hernandez/Gulf News
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Dubai: The much-heralded Salik road toll system has come into effect today - although as late as Saturday many motorists were yet to buy their special tags.

The scheme - the first of its kind in the Middle East - involves a Dh4 levy for motorists using two stretches of road in the emirate.

Toll booths cover vehicles using Al Garhoud Bridge on Shaikh Rashid Road in either direction, while the second section covers the Fourth Interchange of Shaikh Zayed Road near Mall of the Emirates. Drivers will have to pay a maximum of Dh24 in a single day, with fines imposed on those who fail to have Salik tags in their vehicles.

The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) hopes the new system will reduce congestion at the two toll stretches by diverting traffic elsewhere.

Some residents have said project's real effect on traffic flows will not be evident until after summer when people return from their holidays.

Drivers Gulf News spoke to yesterday gave a mixed verdict.

Jane King, 60, a retired occupational health adviser from the United Kingdom, has already bought a Salik tag - but is unsure what benefits the scheme will bring."It's just going to shift traffic into places, such as residential areas, that are not suitable for that amount of traffic," she said.

King said she felt there were no suitable alternative routes people could take to avoid the toll roads.

"Al Khail Road and Emirates Road are full already, and Jumeirah Beach Road and Al Wasl Road are busy," she added.

Government employee Mohammad Abdullah, 32, from Jordan, still had not bought a Salik tag by yesterday morning.

"I am not in a hurry to get one as I won't be going the way for Salik," he said, before adding: "Even if the Salik roads are [free of traffic], the other roads will be jammed."

Sales executive Mohammad Rafik, 28, had not bought a tag because he was waiting for his company to shell out for one.

He said once the new Al Garhoud Bridge was finished, there would be no need to continue with that Salik toll.

"For the long term, it is not a good idea," he said.

Emirati employee Jawad Al Sayed, 32, bought a Salik tag three days ago.

He said that Salik was a good idea, but he felt now was not the right time to introduce it because of a lack of alternative forms of transport. "They should have waited for more than a year because they are working on the metro system. They should finish the metro first," he said.

Have your say
Have you bought a Salik tag? If you haven't bought one, why? Do you plan on buying the Salik tag or will you just avoid the toll gates? How did you find your commute today? Was traffic a breeze or where you caught in a traffic jam? Tell us at letter2editor@gulfnews.com


Your comments


I live in Sharjah and I work in Internet City. So that means I have to pay a toll fee of Dh16 daily. Who can afford this?!
Hesham
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: July 01, 2007, 11:49

The Emirates Road from Global Village to Media City was jam packed today because people were trying to avoid the Shaikh Zayed Road. Salik's achievement today: made me travel 10 kilometres for one hour and made me 25 minutes late for work.
Ali
Dubai,UAE
Posted: July 01, 2007, 11:49

I work in Al Barsha and do not have to pass the toll gates, but I have purchased the Salik tag just in case. However, roads which were rarely used by a few residents are being used by trucks, trailers, buses, and cars. During the commotion in the morning rush hour, I did not see any traffic police at any of the highway exits and at the alternative routes. I just hope this improves over the next few days or else Dubai is going to have a lot of frustrated, angry drivers.
Jaideep
Dubai,UAE
Posted: July 01, 2007, 09:36

I bought my Salik card 10 days ago but until now I still have not received any update about my account registration.
Srikanth
Dubai,UAE
Posted: July 01, 2007, 09:33

I bought my Salik card yesterday. The road toll system seems effective. I did not see a traffic jam on Shaikh Zayed Road.
Gina
Dubai,UAE
Posted: July 01, 2007, 09:31

Salik card is not available in most petrol stations in Dubai. I checked with at least four outlets on Friday but all had same answer ? they have run out of Salik cards.
Adnan
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: July 01, 2007, 08:27

I will never use the toll gate. Instead, I will leave early and take the longer routes, but during the trips I will buy a sandwich and Pepsi - thus utilizing the Dh4 much more effectively.
Mansoor
Sharjah,UAE
Posted: July 01, 2007, 08:17

Why should I buy the tag just to cross 15 kilometres of Salik road when I already know that I have to cross through congested alternative roads to get to my home?
Ahmed
Dubai,UAE
Posted: July 01, 2007, 06:34

I brought a Salik tag on June 12 from the Emarat petrol station on Al Wasl road.
S.Nair
Dubai,UAE
Posted: July 01, 2007, 05:51

Salik cards were not available in the petrol stations in Qusais, even though posters were displayed that the tags will be sold there. Distribution of cards should have planned well.
Mohan
Dubai,UAE
Posted: July 01, 2007, 05:42

Before the Salik, I only travelled to Dubai once in a while. Now, I am never going to visit Dubai. I have everything I need in Abu Dhabi.
Peetz
Abu Dhabi,UAE
Posted: July 01, 2007, 05:40

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