Six dirhams in the morning, four in the afternoon, nothing at all at 3am. Since 31 January 2025, driving under a Salik gate no longer costs the same at every hour, and anyone who does Jumeirah to Business Bay every day noticed it quickly on their statement.
A quick reminder for newcomers: Salik is Dubai’s road toll. There is no barrier and no ticket. A sticker tag on the windscreen is read as you pass, and the account linked to the car is charged within seconds.
What it costs, and when
Monday to Saturday, peak hours run from 6am to 10am and from 4pm to 8pm: each crossing costs AED 6. In between, from 10am to 4pm, and in the evening from 8pm to 1am, it is AED 4. From 1am to 6am, it is free.
On Sundays there is a single AED 4 rate all day, with the same free window overnight.
Since 1 June 2026, 5% VAT applies to tolls, so AED 6 becomes AED 6.30 and AED 4 becomes AED 4.20. The free night crossings stay free.
During Ramadan the timetable changes. In 2026, peak ran from 9am to 5pm and the free window from 2am to 7am. The RTA publishes the new hours a few days before the holy month starts.
The ten gates
Al Barsha, Al Garhoud, Al Maktoum Bridge, Airport Tunnel, Business Bay Crossing, Jebel Ali, and two pairs: Al Mamzar North and South, and Al Safa North and South. For those pairs there is a rule few people know: if you pass both gates in the same direction within an hour, you only pay once.
Paying less without changing your life
The easiest lever is timing. Leaving at 10.05am instead of 9.50am saves two dirhams per crossing. On a daily return trip through two gates, that adds up to more than AED 150 a month.
If you live near a station, the metro is often cheaper, capped at AED 14 a day with a Nol card.
Keep an eye on your balance, too. A crossing with no credit means a fine, and that is not the kind of letter anyone likes to open.
Rental cars have their own tag. The rental company bills the crossings at the end of the contract, often with a few dirhams of service fee per crossing. Ask how much before you sign.
You manage your account on salik.ae and in the Salik app.
Rates checked in November 2026. Sources: Gulf News, YallaMotor, salik.ae.
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