Dubai: The two new tollgates in Dubai Salik will be operational from November 24. The new locations are the 'Business Bay Gate' and 'Al Safa South Gate'.
This brings the number of Salik-operated tollgates in Dubai to 10. On August 28, Salik confirmed the launch of the new gates and what it would mean for Dubai's vehicle traffic flow. They also meant the first additions after Salik went in for a bumper IPO.
The choice of locations for the new gates will greatly streamline vehicle movements on and off the Shaikh Zayed Road stretch.
The gains for Salik too will be immediate, with annual revenue-generating trips expected to increase 7-8% in 2024.
Earlier, Salik had given valuations for the new gates at Dh2.73 billion with Business Bay Gate valued at Dh2.26 billion and Al Safa South Gate at Dh469 million. (Salik has the exclusive rights to construct, operate, and maintain the toll gates until the end of June 2071.)
In the first six months, there were more than 300 million trips through the 8 Salik gates in Dubai. And the number of Salik registered vehicles had risen 8.8% to 4.2 million.
Now, with Business Bay Gate and Al Safa South Gate going live, Salik forecasts a 7-8% revenue gain. Investors on DFM are enthused by the potential, with the Salik stock hovering close to Dh5.
The IPO price was Dh2.
Dismissing talk of 'surge' pricing
Salik recently dismissed speculation in social media circles about plans to introduce 'surge pricing' tariffs for tollgate users. (Surge pricing refers to rates being set depending on the amount of traffic during peak hours.)
RTA forecasts
According to RTA, the Business Bay tollgate will help:
- Divert traffic from Jebel Ali towards Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road and Emirates Road.
- Reduce traffic congestion on Al Khail Road by up to 15%.
- Lower traffic volume on Al Rebat Street by up to 16%.
- Reduce traffic on Financial Centre Street by 5%.
- Cut total travel time on the congested section of Al Khail Road between Al Rebat and Ras Al Khor Streets by about 20,000 hours daily in both directions.
The Al Safa tollgate will help ease traffic flows on key routes in the city:
- Decrease traffic from Al Meydan and Al Safa Streets to Sheikh Zayed Road by around 42%.
- Ease traffic on Sheikh Zayed Road between Financial Centre Street and Latifa bint Hamdan Street by about 4%.
- Reduce right-turn traffic from Shaikh Zayed Road to Al Meydan Street by approximately 15%.
