Exciting News for Dubai Drivers!
Salik PJSC (Public Joint Stock Company) and RTA (Roads & Transport Authority) have made an official announcement of launching two new toll gates in Dubai. The opening date of the new toll gates is Sunday, 24th November 2024, and the activation will go live. The authorities ensure that these Salik gates will be the game changer for the Emirate’s traffic management. The quantity of total Salik gates in Dubai will increase from 8 to 10 with addition of the two new gates. They aim to improve the road network and boost smoother transit across the busiest routes of Dubai.
What is Salik?
Salik is an Arabic word that means “clear and moving”. It is a creative automated road toll collection system in Dubai. The Salik System was originally launched in 2007 to facilitate free-flowing traffic. These tollgates work very simply. Each time drivers pass through a toll gate, a fixed amount is deducted from their account automatically. The city gradually built eight Salik toll gates from time to time and now this number will count as ten.
Locations of the New Toll Gates
The strategic locations of the two new Salik toll gates will be:
1. Business Bay:
The first toll gate will be at Business Bay Crossing on Al Khail Road. This route is very crucial for daily commuters who navigate via the busiest passages of Dubai. This gate will be able to reduce traffic up to:
- 12 to 15 percent on Al Khail Road
- 10 to 16 percent on Al Rabat Street
2. Al Safa South:
The second toll gate will be at Al Safa South on Sheikh Zayed Road. It is expressly between Al Meydan and Umm Al Sheif Streets. This gate will be able to reduce traffic up to:
- 15 percent from Sheikh Zayed Road to Meydan Street
Why Are the New Salik Toll Gates Necessary?
The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has many forecasts about the need for the New toll gates. Here are some of the key benefits outlined by RTA:
Business Bay Toll Gate
The Business Bay tollgate will be helpful in:
1. Diverting Traffic:
It is expected to divert traffic towards the Emirates Road and Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Road from Jebel Ali.
2. Reducing Congestion:
It aims to relieve the traffic on Al Khail Road and bring down the congestion by a maximum of 15%.
3. Clearing Local Streets:
The traffic volume on Al Rebat Street may be lower by as high as 16%, while Financial Center Street may gain a smaller 5% reduction.
4. Time Savings:
The toll gate is anticipated to reduce the total travel time on the highly congested region of Al Khail Road between Al Rebat & Ras Al Khor Streets. The total time will count to around 20000 hours daily across both directions.
Al Safa Toll Gate
The Al Safa toll gate will be helpful in:
1. Easing Traffic Flows:
It will likely unload “the” traffic by around 42% from Al Meydan and Al Safa Streets to drive along Sheikh Zayed Road.
2. Improving Conditions on Sheikh Zayed Road:
The toll is also expected to decrease congestion in the part between Financial Centre Street and Latifa Bint Hamdan Street by about 4%.
3. Reducing Right-Turn Traffic:
It will bring a drop of around 15% in right-turn traffic from Sheikh Zayed Road to Al Meydan Street.
Conclusion
Dubai — the opening of two new Salik gates — Business Bay gate and Al Safa south gate — on Sunday, November 24. This launch represents a pivotal moment for traffic management efforts in Dubai. These gates aim to redistribute traffic and enhance flow on Dubai’s key trails. They will significantly contribute to lowering congestion and improving travel efficiency. As Dubai is constantly changing, the introduction of new infrastructure is imperative, because transportation on the streets is more comfortable. In particular, if you intend a trip to Dubai, you may prefer car rental in Dubai for a more streamlined journey!