About Salik
Salik is Dubai's electronic road toll system and the company that operates it. Its name means "open" or "clear" in Arabic, reflecting its purpose of keeping traffic flowing. Salik Company was listed on the Dubai Financial Market in 2022 in one of the region's most heavily subscribed IPOs, with the Government of Dubai retaining a majority stake.
Salik uses automatic toll gates positioned on major roads in Dubai, including Sheikh Zayed Road and other key routes. Vehicles carry a Salik tag, a small sticker with radio-frequency identification, which is read as the car passes under a toll gate. The toll is deducted automatically from the driver's prepaid Salik account, without the need to stop or slow down.
This free-flow tolling system avoids the queues associated with traditional toll booths. Drivers top up their accounts online, through apps or at retail outlets, and can monitor their balances and trips digitally.
Tolling helps manage congestion by encouraging some drivers to use alternative routes or times, and it generates revenue that supports transport infrastructure. Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority oversees the tolling policy, including the locations of gates and pricing, while Salik operates the system.
As a listed company, Salik earns revenue from toll fees under a long-term concession arrangement with the government. Its business is closely tied to traffic volumes, which have grown with Dubai's population and economy. New toll gates have been added over time as the road network has expanded.
The company has also explored using its technology and customer base for related services, such as payments for parking or other mobility services, making use of its large number of registered accounts.
Dubai's rapid growth has increased pressure on its road network, and the city uses a mix of infrastructure investment, public transport and pricing tools like tolls to manage traffic.
Salik's automated system is a familiar part of daily life for Dubai drivers, and Startups UAE includes it among the city's mobility technology companies.
Salik uses automatic toll gates positioned on major roads in Dubai, including Sheikh Zayed Road and other key routes. Vehicles carry a Salik tag, a small sticker with radio-frequency identification, which is read as the car passes under a toll gate. The toll is deducted automatically from the driver's prepaid Salik account, without the need to stop or slow down.
This free-flow tolling system avoids the queues associated with traditional toll booths. Drivers top up their accounts online, through apps or at retail outlets, and can monitor their balances and trips digitally.
Tolling helps manage congestion by encouraging some drivers to use alternative routes or times, and it generates revenue that supports transport infrastructure. Dubai's Roads and Transport Authority oversees the tolling policy, including the locations of gates and pricing, while Salik operates the system.
As a listed company, Salik earns revenue from toll fees under a long-term concession arrangement with the government. Its business is closely tied to traffic volumes, which have grown with Dubai's population and economy. New toll gates have been added over time as the road network has expanded.
The company has also explored using its technology and customer base for related services, such as payments for parking or other mobility services, making use of its large number of registered accounts.
Dubai's rapid growth has increased pressure on its road network, and the city uses a mix of infrastructure investment, public transport and pricing tools like tolls to manage traffic.
Salik's automated system is a familiar part of daily life for Dubai drivers, and Startups UAE includes it among the city's mobility technology companies.