What is Salik?
Salik is Dubai's automatic, cashless road-toll system. There are no toll booths — an overhead gate reads the tag on your windscreen and deducts the fee from your prepaid balance as you drive through. Because it happens automatically, the key to avoiding trouble is keeping your salik recharge topped up at all times.
The Salik toll gates in Dubai
The Salik network covers Dubai's busiest corridors, especially Sheikh Zayed Road and the crossings over Dubai Creek. The current gates are:
- Jebel Ali
- Al Barsha
- Al Safa & Al Safa South
- Business Bay Crossing
- Al Maktoum Bridge
- Al Garhoud Bridge
- Airport Tunnel
- Al Mamzar South & Al Mamzar North
Use our Salik Calculator to see which of these gates your specific route passes through.
How much does each crossing cost?
Dubai uses variable (dynamic) Salik pricing. The rate depends on the time of day:
| Period | Hours | Fee per gate |
|---|---|---|
| Peak | 06:00–10:00 and 16:00–20:00 | AED 6 |
| Standard | Other daytime hours | AED 4 |
| Free period | 01:00–06:00 daily and all day Sunday | AED 0 |
What you need to use Salik
- A registered Salik account linked to your vehicle.
- A Salik tag fixed to your windscreen.
- A positive prepaid balance — this is where regular salik recharge online comes in.
Keeping your balance topped up
If your balance runs out, fines can apply for crossings made without sufficient credit. The simplest way to avoid this is to estimate your monthly toll spend with the calculator and recharge accordingly. Learn the quickest ways to recharge Salik on our dedicated page.