Dubai: Motorists can now choose to purchase Salik tag, Dubai’s automated road toll system, through the Roads and Transport Authority’s (RTA) Salik Portal, RTA announced on Monday.
The online tag through www.salik.gov.ae will see the Salik tag delivered to the buyer’s doorstep.
The Salik tag, which represents an advanced Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology, can also be bought from petrol stations for Dh100, out of which Dh50 will be added to Salik account balance.
Salik tags are powered by transceivers in the toll gates and operate without batteries. The transponder on the tag helps store and retrieve data remotely.
The tag is pasted on the vehicle’s windscreen and each time a vehicle passes through the toll gate Dh4 is deducted from the individual’s Salik account.
An individual can purchase multiple Salik tags in his name under a single account and funds can be transferred from one account to another in case of a single owner. Salik tags can also be purchased by companies, and multiple tags are allowed to be registered under a single commercial account.
However, funds cannot be transferred to accounts owned by different owners, neither will credit once paid be refunded.
According to Maitha Obaid Bin Udai, CEO of RTA’s Traffic and Roads Agency, the service is offered as part of RTA’s efforts to make its services more accessible to users and contribute to realising its strategic goal of making people happier.
It also part of Dubai Government’s Smart City initiative.
“This initiative is intended to meet the needs of road users intending to buy Salik tags. The idea was conceived as part of the agency’s efforts to offer its services through the fastest means possible,” said Bin Udai. The service is accessible on a secure online platform through a flexible payment method and offers delivery to the required address.
“The service is now available through www.salik.gov.ae. Initially, it is available only for Dubai-registered vehicles and for individual users only. Customers with vehicles registered in other emirates may continue to use the existing retail network for buying Salik tags,” she said.
She added that only purchase of the Salik involves simple steps.
“Just log on to the web, enter correct details and wait for confirmation of the successful transaction, following which the tag will be delivered to the specified address against an applicable fees,” she said.
Starting from today (Tuesday), RTA is launching an awareness campaign to highlight the benefits of online purchase of Salik tag through various mediums.
She reiterated the importance of shifting to smart means for obtaining services to save time and effort.
The Salik toll system was introduced at two gates — Al Garhoud and Al Barsha — in 2007, with additions on Al Maktoum Bridge and Al Safa in 2008, while two more gates were added at Al Mamzar and Airport Tunnel in April 2013.
Passing without being registered with Salik is a violation with fine of Dh100 for the first time, Dh200 for the second time and Dh400 for the third time onwards.
Salik credit can be topped up through phone banking services, Salik recharge cards as well as through e-vouchers and SMS.
A Salik tag or account is valid for life, however, a motorist has to pass through a Salik gate at least once in three years to keep the account active, otherwise the credit in the account will be forfeited.
