Salik is Dubai’s electronic road toll system. There are no toll booths: a tag on the windscreen is read as the car passes under a toll gate, and the fee is deducted automatically. Visitors meet Salik in three ways: in a taxi, where tolls are added to the fare; in a rental car, where the rental company passes the charges on; and in a private transfer, where tolls may or may not be included in the quote. This guide explains current rates and what they mean for each.
Current Salik rates
Since the introduction of variable pricing, the toll depends on the time of day. According to the Government of Dubai’s official portal:
| Time | Toll per crossing |
|---|---|
| Peak: Monday to Saturday, 6:00 to 10:00 am and 4:00 to 8:00 pm | AED 6 |
| Off-peak: other times | AED 4 |
| Every day, 1:00 to 6:00 am | Free |
| Sundays (except the free overnight window) | AED 4 flat |
The same source notes that peak hours can change during Ramadan, and that passing through a gate without a tag, or without enough balance and without topping up within five days, can lead to fines.
Salik in a taxi
Taxis are subject to Salik like any other vehicle. The RTA fare formula, published on the RTA taxi fare page, includes a Salik fee whenever the route passes a toll gate. You will see it added to the meter. Routes along Sheikh Zayed Road and some bridges and tunnels pass toll gates, so a cross-city trip can include more than one crossing. For more on how taxi fares are built, see our Dubai taxi fare guide.
Salik in a rental car
Rental cars in Dubai normally come with a Salik tag already fitted. The rental company pays the toll and then charges it to you, often with an administration fee set by the company. The fee and how it is billed vary between companies, so read the rental agreement before you sign. Visitors who do not want to deal with tolls, parking and navigation often choose a car with driver instead of a self-drive rental.
Salik in a private transfer
In a private transfer, the driver’s vehicle has its own Salik tag. Whether tolls are part of your price depends on the quote, so ask us directly: we can tell you whether your route is expected to pass toll gates and whether tolls are included. Our airport transfer cost guide explains what else goes into a private quote, such as waiting time and extra stops.
How to recharge Salik
If you have your own car registered in the UAE, you recharge the Salik account linked to it. The official portal explains that tags are available online and at petrol stations and must be fixed to the windscreen. Visitors using taxis, rental cars or transfers do not need to recharge Salik themselves.
Practical tips for visitors
- Travelling very early? Crossings between 1:00 and 6:00 am are free, which can help on early airport runs.
- Peak-time tolls apply on weekday mornings and evenings, the same times traffic is heaviest.
- For rental cars, ask how Salik is billed and whether an admin fee applies.
- For transfers, ask whether tolls are included in the quote before you accept it.
Where the toll gates are
Salik gates are on some of Dubai’s busiest roads, including stretches of Sheikh Zayed Road and several bridges and tunnels across Dubai Creek. You do not need to know the exact locations as a passenger, but it helps to understand why some routes cost more: a trip that crosses the Creek or runs along Sheikh Zayed Road is more likely to pass a gate than one that stays in a single district. Drivers may choose a route that avoids a gate if it is not slower, but that is not always possible.
Examples of how variable pricing affects a trip
Imagine a taxi journey that passes two toll gates. At peak times on a weekday, the tolls would be AED 6 per crossing under the official rates, so AED 12 in total. The same journey off-peak would be AED 4 per crossing, so AED 8, and between 1 and 6 am the crossings would be free. These are toll amounts only; the rest of the fare follows the RTA tariff. Our taxi fare guide explains those parts.
For a return journey, remember that tolls can apply in both directions, and the time of each crossing decides the rate.
Salik and airport journeys
Airport trips often run on the main highways, so tolls are common. If you are comparing an airport taxi with a pre-booked car, include tolls in the comparison. Our airport taxi or private transfer page shows how the airport taxi tariff is built, and the DXB transfer page explains what to send for a fixed quote.
Salik when driving between emirates
Salik is a Dubai toll. Other emirates operate their own systems, and Abu Dhabi, for example, has its own road toll arrangements. If you are planning a long drive, such as a Dubai to Abu Dhabi transfer, ask whether any tolls are included in the quote.
Quick summary
- Salik is Dubai’s automatic road toll; there are no booths.
- Peak: AED 6 per crossing, Monday to Saturday, 6-10 am and 4-8 pm.
- Off-peak: AED 4. Sundays: flat AED 4.
- Free every day from 1 to 6 am.
- Taxis add Salik to the meter; rental companies pass it on; transfer quotes may or may not include it.
If you only remember one thing, ask before you travel whether tolls are included, whichever way you get around.
Why some quotes include tolls and others do not
Transfer companies handle tolls in different ways. Some include expected tolls in a fixed price; others add them afterwards based on the actual route. Neither approach is wrong, but you should know which applies before you accept. When you request a quote from us, ask the question directly and we will confirm it in writing for your route. This matters most on routes along Sheikh Zayed Road and across the Creek, where gates are common, and at peak hours, when the higher rate applies.
Get a quote with tolls explained
Use our quote request form, or email info@belgraviatransfers.com, with your route, date and time, passengers and luggage, and ask us to confirm whether tolls are included. We reply with availability and a price. For airport arrivals, see our Dubai airport transfer page.
Frequently asked questions
How much is Salik in Dubai?
AED 6 per crossing at peak times (Monday to Saturday, 6-10 am and 4-8 pm) and AED 4 at other times, according to the official Dubai portal. Crossings are free between 1 and 6 am.
Is Salik charged on Sundays?
Yes, at a flat AED 4 per crossing, except during the free overnight window from 1 to 6 am.
Do taxi passengers pay Salik?
Yes. The RTA fare formula adds a Salik fee whenever the taxi passes a toll gate.
Do I need to recharge Salik as a tourist?
Not if you use taxis, rental cars or transfers. The vehicle operator handles the tag and passes on the charge.
Are Salik tolls included in a Belgravia transfer quote?
Ask us when you request your quote and we will confirm whether tolls are included for your route.
Can peak hours change?
Yes. The official portal notes that peak hours can change during Ramadan.
Facts on this page were checked against the sources linked above on 17 October 2026. Dates, prices and opening hours can change, so confirm them with the official source before you travel.
