Dubai’s upcoming addition of two new Salik toll gates is stirring up concerns among commuters about rising travel costs.
The expansion, set to include new gates at Business Bay, is expected to impact daily commuters who are already juggling between toll charges and fuel expenses.
For Abdul Qadir, 38, the decision to avoid Salik fees is driven by necessity. As the sole breadwinner for his family, Qadir is keenly aware of every dirham.
His daily commute from Abu Shagara in Sharjah to Al Barsha costs him Dh8 per day in Salik tolls, totaling Dh208 monthly.
With the new Business Bay gate set to double his daily toll expense to Dh16, Qadir faces an additional Dh208 each month—equivalent to his two weeks of petrol costs.
“I’m considering leaving early and taking a longer route to save on the toll costs,” Qadir explained to Khaleej Times. “Although it means spending more on fuel, it’s a smaller amount compared to the toll fees.”
Adnan Mehmood, an IT professional in Dubai, has devised strategies to avoid Salik charges. For trips to Abu Dhabi or Jebel Ali, he opts for the longer E311 route, while for destinations like Dubai Marina, he uses Jumeirah Road.
“Taking longer routes helps me avoid the Salik fees, which can be worth it sometimes,” Mehmood said. However, he acknowledges that in situations where time is critical, paying the tolls might be more practical to ensure punctuality.
The impact of Salik tolls is also felt differently depending on the type of vehicle. M. Khan, 28, a professional with a smaller car, finds it feasible to avoid Salik charges by taking alternative routes.
“Using Google Maps to select Salik-free routes helps me cut costs,” Khan said. He prefers using intercity roads, which, while longer, bypass the toll gates and reduce overall expenses.
For businesses, the new toll gates pose a significant financial challenge. Fahad, a businessman who commutes daily with a fleet of rental vehicles, estimates that the addition of the new gates will increase his Salik charges from Dh600-Dh1,000 to Dh1,000-Dh1,500 daily.
“We are exploring alternative routes and discussing options with my team to mitigate these costs,” Fahad explained. He notes that while paying tolls can save time, avoiding them when possible is crucial to managing expenses.
Abeer, an aviation professional, suggests practical solutions to mitigate the financial impact of the new gates. “Carpooling is a great way to share costs among colleagues.
Also, moving closer to the office could reduce travel expenses significantly,” she advised. Abeer hopes that companies will recognize the additional burden on employees and consider providing allowances to cover the increased travel costs.
As Dubai prepares for the new Salik gates, commuters and businesses alike are weighing their options, balancing the trade-offs between toll charges and fuel expenses to find the most economical solutions for their daily travel needs.