What is Salik?
Salik (Arabic for 'clear' or 'open') is the electronic road-toll system that operates on specific roads and bridges in the Emirate of Dubai. When a vehicle passes under a Salik gantry, the system reads the vehicle's tag or plate and automatically deducts a fixed charge from a prepaid Salik account linked to that vehicle's registration. There are no toll booths and no need to slow down or stop; the process is fully automated. As of the time of writing, Salik operates on major arterial routes including Sheikh Zayed Road, Al Maktoum Bridge, Al Garhoud Bridge, and the Airport Tunnel, among others. Confirm the current list of active gates on salik.ae, as new gates are added periodically.
How to open, top up, or manage a Salik account
- Account creation: A Salik account is created at salik.ae, through the Salik mobile app, at approved service centres, or at selected petrol stations. You will need the vehicle's plate number and registration details. New vehicle owners should open an account before the vehicle's first pass through a gate to avoid accumulating unregistered charges.
- Top up the balance: The account operates as a prepaid balance. Top-ups can be made online via the Salik portal or app, at approved top-up points (petrol stations, banks, and service centres), or via automatic top-up linked to a payment card if you activate that option. Confirm current top-up channels on salik.ae.
- Monitor usage: The app and portal show a real-time log of gate crossings and the remaining balance. Set up low-balance alerts if available to avoid the account running dry.
- Manage across multiple vehicles: Vehicle owners with more than one car can link multiple plates to the same Salik account for centralised management. Confirm the current account setup process on the portal.
Rules, validity, and cost
The toll charged per crossing is set by Salik and may be adjusted over time; confirm the current rate per gate on salik.ae before relying on any figure you have seen elsewhere. If a vehicle passes a gate with a zero or insufficient balance, the crossing is still recorded and the shortfall plus any applicable penalty must be settled. Outstanding Salik balances are linked to the vehicle's Mulkiya registration and unpaid amounts typically must be cleared before the annual registration renewal is approved. Accounts do not expire as long as the vehicle remains registered, but an inactive account with a zero balance may have specific requirements; confirm with Salik.
What expats should know
One common issue for newly arrived residents is driving a vehicle whose previous owner had an outstanding Salik balance at the time of the ownership transfer. Always confirm the Salik account status and balance of a used vehicle before completing the purchase and transfer. After a transfer, the new owner should update or open a fresh Salik account in their own name for the plate. If you are leaving Dubai permanently and selling or exporting the vehicle, close the Salik account or transfer it as appropriate and ensure any outstanding balance is settled to avoid it appearing against your record or blocking a future transaction.