Dubai: Higher monthly household expenses and taxi fares will result from the new Salik toll gates

 The news that two new Salik gates would soon open in Dubai has not only alarmed drivers and car owners, but it has also caused taxi passengers to anticipate fare increases by November. In the meantime, some residents are proposing to continue the conversation about pay increases in order to cover the anticipated rise in costs.

The two new toll gates are situated at Business Bay Crossing on Al Khail Road and Al Safa South on Sheikh Zayed Road between Al Meydan Street and Umm Al Sheif Street. The Roads and Transport Authority made the announcement of their installation on Friday.

The final fare of a taxi is increased by Dh4 each time it passes under a Salik gate. Since 2013, the policy has been in place to automatically include Salik tolls in the taxi fare. Mario Gonsalves, a resident of Dubai, is aware of this; for him, it means spending an extra Dh8 on his daily commute along Al Khail Road to and from work. Starting in November, this will equate to an extra monthly expense of about Dh160.

With the two new Salik gates, there will be ten toll gates overall. Al Barsha, Al Garhoud Bridge, Al Maktoum Bridge, Al Mamzar South, Al Mamzar North, Al Safa, Airport Tunnel, and Jebel Ali are the locations of the toll gates that are currently in place.

Greatest quantity of toll booths

The primary thoroughfare in the city, Sheikh Zayed Road, has the greatest number of toll gates.

At least five toll-collecting Salik gates—Al Mamzar, Al Garhoud Bridge, Al Safa, Al Barsha, and Jebel Ali—must be crossed by citizens of Sharjah or Al Nahda who work in Jebel Ali. plus five more Salik gates in return. A driver who uses this route pays Dh40 in tolls every day.

However, those who choose this path won't have to worry about the new Salik in Al Safa. Salik Company PJSC (Salik), Dubai's exclusive toll gate operator, announced on Friday that "the upcoming Al Safa South will be linked with the existing Al Safa gate (Al Safa North), and motorists will be charged only once if they pass through the two gates within an hour in the same direction, similar to Al Mamzar North and South."

Residents Affected

Beginning in November, drivers who continue to enjoy the toll-free route between Al Meydan Street and Umm Al Sheif Street will have to deal with the consequences.

This is what Muzaffar, a resident of Dubai, is getting ready. His Salik-free route from Al Nahda to Quoz via Business Bay Crossing along Al Khail Road will soon incur an additional daily cost of Dh8. He is considering using the Infinity Bridge and Al Shindagha Tunnel as alternate crossings of the Dubai Creek, but doing so will require more driving, more gas, and more time spent on the road.

"I promise not to lie when I say that the extra Dh160 in tolls will cut into our monthly household budget. Ten bags of five kilograms of rice at a cost of Dh15–16 each would already cover this additional expense, he claimed.

Talk about pay raises

Ion Gonzaga, a Filipino expat and social media influencer, told Khaleej Times that "it's about time conversation on salary increase be taken seriously to adapt to the increasing cost of living" in light of the anticipated additional expenses for residents.

"Many residents' rent renewals coincide with the announcement of new Salik gates. Both rent and the cost of some necessities are rising. Since I work from home, this (new Salik) doesn't directly affect my daily activities, but I do feel bad for people who have to commute every day to work or school," he said.

Salik-free window

Meanwhile, other locals are advocating for windows free of Salik. "Salik should be made free at least after 11 p.m. until 6 a.m. the following day; and also on weekends, when traffic is not heavy," proposed Sagar Ahmad and Zahid Afridi. Sagar Ahmad also inquired as to when the free Floating Bridge will reopen.

According to Gonzaga, "companies can also think about offering employees more remote working days to somehow lessen the impact of going to work."

Meanwhile, financial advisor Susan Francisco offered guidance on how to control spending. "Maybe we can come up with some ways to reduce some unnecessary expenses to make up for the additional costs. We've been given fair notice and plenty of time to prepare for new toll fees. In addition, she suggested that drivers, who frequently travel alone in their vehicles, think about using public transportation to cut costs.