Dubai motorists are reassessing their travel expenses as two additional Salik toll gates become operational on November 24, bringing the total number of toll gates in the city to 10.
New Gate Locations
The latest additions to Dubai’s toll system include:
- Business Bay gate: Located at Business Bay Crossing on Al Khail Road
- Al Safa South gate: Positioned on Sheikh Zayed Road between Al Meydan Street and Umm Al Sheif Street
Impact on Daily Commuters
Mohammed AbuNael, a marketing executive who travels over 80km daily, faces a significant increase in his monthly transport costs. “My Salik expenses may rise from Dh350 to Dh500,” he shares, calculating an additional Dh150-200 monthly allocation.
Commuters Explore Alternative Routes
Residents have been testing different paths to manage costs:
Shorouq Saleem, who frequently uses the Business Bay bridge, says:
“Instead of one Salik gate, I now pass through two. Alternative routes are likely to become more congested once the gates start operating.”
Saeed Shah, commuting from Sharjah’s Al Nahda, discovered a crucial insight:
“Taking longer routes to avoid toll gates actually increases fuel consumption, especially with traffic signals and congestion.”
Taxi Users Feel the Pinch
The new gates affect taxi passengers like Aysha Nida, who commutes to Business Bay.
“Passing through two gates instead of one might seem minor, but for daily taxi users, these costs accumulate significantly,” she explains.
Expected Traffic Impact
Some residents hope these changes might redistribute traffic flow. AbuNael suggests: “Traffic might shift toward Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road, potentially reducing congestion on the Airport Tunnel Road and Business Bay Crossing.”
JobXDubai 
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