Dubai motorists are preparing for increased transportation expenses with the activation of two new Salik toll gates, which are set to become operational on November 24.
The new toll gates, located at Business Bay Crossing on Al Khail Road and Al Safa South on Sheikh Zayed Road, bring the total number of Salik gates in Dubai to 10.
The introduction of these new gates has raised concerns among residents about escalating travel costs. Many drivers are now reconsidering their daily routes, with some even recalculating their monthly budgets to account for the added expenses.
Jordanian expatriate Mohammed AbuNael, who travels more than 80 kilometers daily, shared that he currently spends around Dh350 on Salik tolls each month.
With the addition of the new toll gates, AbuNael expects his Salik expenses to exceed Dh500. “I’ll have to set aside an extra Dh150 to Dh200 just for these new gates,” he said, emphasizing how these costs would impact his monthly budget.
Another resident, Shorouq Saleem, a 37-year-old Syrian expatriate, echoed similar sentiments. A regular user of the Business Bay bridge to access Al Khail Road from Al Twar, Saleem described the toll hike as “quite disappointing.”
With the new toll, his daily route will now involve passing through two Salik gates instead of one. “This is going to significantly increase my expenditure,” he said.
He has already begun exploring alternative routes to reduce costs but is concerned that traffic congestion could worsen as more motorists opt for Salik-free roads.
Saeed Shah, a resident of Al Nahda in Sharjah, has also been testing out toll-free routes to avoid paying additional fees. However, he quickly noticed a rise in his fuel expenses due to the longer, more indirect routes.
“I tried taking the Airport Tunnel toward Ras Al Khor, which leads to Meydan and then to Al Khail Road, reaching my office in Al Quoz,” he said, adding that this route consumes significantly more fuel because of multiple traffic signals and frequent stops.
Shah pointed out that avoiding Salik tolls comes with the downside of higher fuel consumption, which adds a different type of financial burden.
As the November 24 activation date approaches, many residents are contemplating whether the increased tolls will ultimately help ease traffic congestion on Dubai’s main roads.
AbuNael expressed hope that the additional Salik gates might alleviate the heavy traffic on routes like the Airport Tunnel Road and Business Bay Crossing.
“As the gates increase, hopefully, traffic will divert to the Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road, so that congestions can be eased,” he remarked.
Despite the potential traffic benefits, the rising cost of transportation remains a primary concern for many Dubai residents.
While alternative routes provide a temporary solution, the added fuel costs and extended travel times make them a less-than-ideal option for regular commuters.
For now, motorists like AbuNael, Saleem, and Shah will be closely monitoring the impact of these changes on their wallets and daily commutes as Dubai’s toll infrastructure continues to expand.