Salik toll gates in Dubai: locations, 2026 rates and how chauffeur prices include them
All 10 Salik toll gates in Dubai, 2026 peak and off-peak rates with VAT, Ramadan times, free hours and how chauffeur prices include Salik.
Chauffeur operations specialist, Dubai · Updated · 7 min read
Dubai has 10 Salik toll gates, on Sheikh Zayed Road, Al Khail Road, Al Ittihad Road, the two Creek bridges and the Airport Tunnel. Since 31 January 2025 the toll depends on the time: AED 6 at peak (6–10 a.m. and 4–8 p.m., Monday to Saturday), AED 4 off-peak, and free from 1 to 6 a.m. Since 1 June 2026, 5% VAT is added, making it AED 6.30 and AED 4.20. On our chauffeur service in Dubai, every toll is already in the price.
Below: where each gate is, the full rate table including Sundays and Ramadan, the rule that makes some pairs of gates charge once, and what Salik adds to typical trips.
Where are the Salik toll gates in Dubai?
There are ten gates, all barrier-free. Cars drive through at normal speed and a tag on the windscreen is read automatically.
| Gate | Road | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Al Barsha | Sheikh Zayed Road (E11) | Al Barsha, near Mall of the Emirates |
| Al Safa North | Sheikh Zayed Road | Al Safa area, paired with Al Safa South |
| Al Safa South | Sheikh Zayed Road | Between Al Meydan Street and Umm Al Sheif Street; opened November 2024 |
| Jebel Ali | Sheikh Zayed Road | Jebel Ali area |
| Business Bay Crossing | Al Khail Road | At Business Bay Crossing; opened November 2024 |
| Al Garhoud Bridge | Al Garhoud Bridge | Crossing Dubai Creek |
| Al Maktoum Bridge | Al Maktoum Bridge | Crossing Dubai Creek |
| Airport Tunnel | Airport Tunnel | Beside Dubai International Airport |
| Al Mamzar North | Al Ittihad Road | On the Dubai–Sharjah road, Al Mamzar |
| Al Mamzar South | Al Ittihad Road | Same stretch, paired with Al Mamzar North |
Salik’s own toll locations page has a map of each gate.
How much is Salik in 2026?
Salik has used variable pricing since 31 January 2025. The underlying tariff hasn’t changed since then; what changed on 1 June 2026 is that 5% VAT now applies to tolls and tag activation.
| When | Toll | With 5% VAT |
|---|---|---|
| Monday to Saturday, 6–10 a.m. and 4–8 p.m. (peak) | AED 6 | AED 6.30 |
| Monday to Saturday, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. and 8 p.m.–1 a.m. | AED 4 | AED 4.20 |
| Sunday, all day except the free hours (not public holidays or event days) | AED 4 | AED 4.20 |
| Every day, 1–6 a.m. | Free | Free |
| Public holidays and major events | The variable schedule may apply |
The Dubai government’s Salik guide confirms the same times and rates, and notes that peak hours change in Ramadan.
Salik during Ramadan
In Ramadan the day shifts later, and so do the tolls:
| Ramadan, when | Toll |
|---|---|
| 9 a.m.–5 p.m. (peak) | AED 6 |
| 7–9 a.m. and 5 p.m.–2 a.m. | AED 4 |
| 2–7 a.m. | Free |
VAT applies on top. Ramadan 2027 is expected to start around 8 February, subject to moon sighting. Our guide to getting around Dubai in Ramadan covers the rest of the Ramadan timetable.
Which gates charge only once?
Two pairs of gates sit close together on the same road, and Salik charges them once if you pass both in the same direction within an hour:
- Al Mamzar North and Al Mamzar South on Al Ittihad Road.
- Al Safa North and Al Safa South on Sheikh Zayed Road.
This is why a Sheikh Zayed Road run between the Marina and the Trade Centre area costs two tolls, not three: Al Barsha, then the Al Safa pair.
What does Salik add to a typical trip?
Examples at peak and off-peak, VAT included. The actual gates depend on the route the traffic allows.
| Trip | Gates you’d usually pass | Peak | Off-peak |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dubai Marina to DIFC on Sheikh Zayed Road | Al Barsha, Al Safa pair | AED 12.60 | AED 8.40 |
| Sharjah to Deira on Al Ittihad Road | Al Mamzar pair | AED 6.30 | AED 4.20 |
| Deira to Bur Dubai via Al Maktoum or Al Garhoud Bridge | One bridge gate | AED 6.30 | AED 4.20 |
| Business Bay along Al Khail Road | Business Bay Crossing | AED 6.30 | AED 4.20 |
On a single trip these are small amounts. Across a month of commuting they aren’t. A Marina-to-DIFC round trip at peak, every working day, comes to about AED 554 a month. We use that example in our monthly chauffeur vs company car comparison.
Is it worth avoiding Salik gates?
Rarely, if you’re the passenger. Some trips have a toll-free alternative, such as a different Creek crossing, but at rush hour the detour usually costs more time than the AED 6.30 it saves. Since November 2024, Al Khail Road has its own gate at Business Bay Crossing, so switching from Sheikh Zayed Road to Al Khail no longer avoids tolls completely.
Timing saves more than routing. The same trip costs AED 4.20 instead of AED 6.30 after 10 a.m., and nothing between 1 and 6 a.m. For which roads jam when, see our Dubai rush hour guide.
How do chauffeur and taxi prices handle Salik?
It depends who’s driving.
- Chauffeur service (with us): Salik is included in every price, whether transfer, hourly, full day or monthly. The chauffeur takes the fastest route, toll or not, and nothing is added afterwards.
- Dubai taxis: the meter fare doesn’t include tolls. Dubai Taxi’s tariff lists Salik as an additional charge on top of the fare.
- Self-drive rental cars: the car has a tag, and the rental company bills your tolls after the hire.
- Your own car: you need a tag and a funded Salik account.
When you compare a chauffeur quote with a taxi fare, add the tolls to the taxi side. Our limo vs taxi guide does that for typical trips.
Tags, balances and fines
For residents and companies with their own cars:
- Buy a tag. Salik sells them online and at petrol stations. The tag costs AED 52.50 including VAT, and you add a AED 50 prepaid toll balance.
- Stick it to the windscreen and link it to the vehicle.
- Keep the balance topped up. Recharges are in multiples of AED 50.
- Watch for low balance. If you pass a gate without enough balance and don’t recharge within 5 days, a fine is issued. Passing without a tag can also lead to fines.
Visitors in a chauffeur car don’t need any of this. The tolls are the operator’s problem, and in our case they’re in the price.
Frequently asked questions
How many toll gates are there in Dubai?
Ten: Al Barsha, Al Safa North, Al Safa South, Jebel Ali, Business Bay Crossing, Al Garhoud Bridge, Al Maktoum Bridge, the Airport Tunnel, Al Mamzar North and Al Mamzar South. The two newest, Business Bay Crossing and Al Safa South, opened in November 2024.
Is the Dubai toll gate free today?
Every day, Salik is free from 1 to 6 a.m. (2 to 7 a.m. in Ramadan). There’s no toll-free day: on Sundays the charge is a flat AED 4 outside the free hours, plus VAT. Public holidays and big event days can follow the variable schedule.
What happens if you pass through a Salik toll gate without a Salik tag?
You can be fined. If your tag’s balance is too low, you have 5 days to recharge before a fine is issued. Rental cars and chauffeur cars already carry tags, so passengers never deal with this.
How do I pay tolls in Dubai?
Through a Salik tag on the car, which deducts each toll from a prepaid balance automatically. There are no toll booths. In a taxi, tolls are added to your fare; in a chauffeur car with us, they’re already in the price.
Is Salik included in chauffeur prices in Dubai?
With us, yes, on every booking. Other operators vary, so check the quote. At AED 6.30 per crossing at peak including VAT, a full day on Sheikh Zayed Road can add a noticeable amount if tolls are billed separately.
Written by
Arshad HussainArshad Hussain has run chauffeur and limousine operations in Dubai since 2014: dispatch, fleet allocation, airport pickups and event transport.
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