Salik Toll in Dubai: Gates, Peak Prices and Fines
Every Salik rule in one place: the 10 gates, what each crossing costs at each hour since VAT arrived, Sunday, holiday and Ramadan timings, and how to avoid or dispute a fine.
Last checked: 3 October 2026. We update this page whenever Salik or the RTA change a price, a timing or a gate.
| When you cross | Price per gate (incl. 5% VAT) |
|---|---|
| Monday to Saturday, 6am to 10am and 4pm to 8pm (peak) | AED 6.30 |
| Monday to Saturday, 10am to 4pm and 8pm to 1am (off-peak) | AED 4.20 |
| Sunday, 6am to 1am (unless a public holiday or major event) | AED 4.20 |
| Every day, 1am to 6am | Free |
| Public holidays | Normal weekday peak and off-peak rates |
Dubai has 10 Salik gates. Tolls have carried 5% VAT since 1 June 2026, which added 30 fils to a peak crossing and 20 fils to an off-peak one. The underlying prices (AED 6 and AED 4) have not changed since variable pricing started on 31 January 2025.
Where the 10 Salik gates are
- Al Barsha, Sheikh Zayed Road
- Jebel Ali, Sheikh Zayed Road
- Al Safa North and Al Safa South, Sheikh Zayed Road
- Business Bay Crossing, Al Khail Road
- Al Garhoud Bridge
- Al Maktoum Bridge
- Airport Tunnel
- Al Mamzar North and Al Mamzar South, Al Ittihad Road
Business Bay Crossing and Al Safa South are the newest, both switched on in November 2024. Salik has said new gates depend on traffic studies and has no fixed schedule for more.
Two pairs come with a built-in discount. If you pass both Al Mamzar gates, or both Al Safa gates, in the same direction within one hour, you pay once.
Salik peak hours, Sundays and public holidays
Peak pricing runs for 8 hours a day, Monday to Saturday: 6am to 10am and 4pm to 8pm. Off-peak covers 10am to 4pm and 8pm to 1am. Between 1am and 6am every gate is free, every day of the year.
Sunday is the cheap day: AED 4.20 per crossing from 6am to 1am, with no peak premium. There is a catch. Salik treats public holidays and big event days differently, and during Eid it has applied full weekday variable pricing even when a holiday fell on a Sunday. So do not assume a holiday means a cheaper or free drive.
For large events, Salik sometimes sets temporary rates on the affected roads, as it did for Dubai Ride in November 2025. It announces these a few days ahead.
Salik during Ramadan
Salik moves its timings during Ramadan to match shorter working hours. In Ramadan 2026 the schedule was:
- Monday to Saturday: peak 9am to 5pm, off-peak 7am to 9am and 5pm to 2am, free 2am to 7am
- Sunday: off-peak rate from 7am to 2am, free 2am to 7am
Those prices were AED 6 and AED 4 before VAT. Our Ramadan 2026 Salik guide has the full detail. Ramadan 2027 is expected to begin in early February, and Salik usually confirms the year's timings shortly before. We will add them here when it does.
How to get a tag and top up your Salik account
A Salik tag on your windscreen is linked to your plate. With VAT on the activation fee, a tag now costs about AED 102.50 at a petrol station (including AED 50 of toll credit) or about AED 122.50 online with delivery. Tags bought at a station must be activated on the Salik app or website.
Ways to top up:
- The Salik app or salik.ae, by card, including automatic top-up when your balance runs low
- Online banking with major UAE banks
- Salik recharge cards at ENOC, ADNOC and Emarat stations
Turn on auto top-up if you drive daily. A commuter crossing 2 gates each way at peak now pays AED 25.20 a month more than before VAT, so a balance drains faster than it used to.
Salik fines: low balance and no tag
Low or empty balance. You have 5 working days after the crossing to top up. Miss that and Salik issues an AED 50 violation for each day on which you passed a gate without enough credit, capped at one violation per day.
No tag, or a tag that is not activated. After the grace period, fines climb: AED 100 for the first, AED 200 for the second and AED 400 for each one after that.
Salik violations go on your traffic file. Unpaid fines can block a visa renewal and, in some cases, travel, as we explain in how unpaid traffic fines affect leaving the UAE.
How to check and dispute a Salik charge
Check your trips and balance on the Salik app, salik.ae, or the RTA Dubai app. Salik also sends an SMS for crossings and low balance.
To dispute a toll or a violation:
- File it on the Salik app, salik.ae, or by calling 800 72545.
- Give your plate, traffic file number, the time and gate, and your reason. Attach any proof.
- You get a dispute number within 2 working days. A decision usually follows within 15 days, by SMS and email.
You can only dispute violations posted to your traffic file within the last 13 months.
Salik on rental and company cars
Rental cars already carry a Salik tag. The company pays the toll, then bills you the crossings, usually with a small admin fee per trip or a flat daily charge set in your contract. Ask for a trip-by-trip Salik statement before you accept a deduction from your deposit. Disputes go to the rental company first.
Salik also now pays for parking in some places, such as Dubai Airports' car parks since January 2026, so keep an eye on non-toll deductions too.
If you are new to Dubai and weighing up a car against your commute, browse live UAE jobs by area before you sign a lease.
FAQ
How much is Salik per crossing in 2026?
AED 6.30 at peak times (6am to 10am and 4pm to 8pm, Monday to Saturday) and AED 4.20 off-peak, including 5% VAT. Crossing between 1am and 6am is free.
Is Salik free on Sundays?
No. Sunday crossings cost AED 4.20 all day, with no peak premium, and are free only from 1am to 6am. If a public holiday falls on a Sunday, normal weekday peak pricing can apply.
Is Salik free on public holidays or Eid?
No. Salik applies its normal variable rates on public holidays, so peak crossings still cost AED 6.30. Only the 1am to 6am window is free.
What happens if my Salik balance is empty when I pass a gate?
Nothing straight away. You have 5 working days to top up. After that, an AED 50 violation is added for each day you crossed without credit, capped at one per day.
How many Salik gates are there in Dubai?
There are 10: Al Barsha, Jebel Ali, Al Safa North, Al Safa South, Business Bay Crossing, Al Garhoud Bridge, Al Maktoum Bridge, Airport Tunnel, Al Mamzar North and Al Mamzar South.
Does Salik work in Abu Dhabi?
No. Abu Dhabi runs its own toll, Darb, with a separate account and different peak hours. See our Darb guide.