Quick answer
- Salik in Dubai costs AED 6 plus 5% VAT (AED 6.30 per crossing) at peak times, 6am to 10am and 4pm to 8pm, Monday to Saturday.
- At all other charged times, and all day on Sunday, a Salik crossing costs AED 4 plus VAT (AED 4.20).
- Every Salik gate in Dubai is free from 1am to 6am, or 2am to 7am during Ramadan.
- Since 1 June 2026, Salik adds 5% VAT to toll charges and tag activation fees; the base rates have not changed.
The base Salik rates in Dubai are the same as before, but since 1 June 2026 every toll crossing and tag activation fee carries 5% VAT. This guide, checked against Salik’s official rates on 7 October 2026, sets out what drivers now pay at Dubai’s 10 toll gates, including Ramadan timings, tag prices and fines.
Salik rates in Dubai right now
Dubai uses variable toll pricing, so what you pay depends on the day and the time you pass a gate. These are the rates published on the official Salik variable toll rates page, with the 5% VAT worked out for each crossing.
| Day | Time | Toll | With 5% VAT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monday to Saturday | 6am to 10am (peak) | AED 6 | AED 6.30 |
| Monday to Saturday | 10am to 4pm | AED 4 | AED 4.20 |
| Monday to Saturday | 4pm to 8pm (peak) | AED 6 | AED 6.30 |
| Monday to Saturday | 8pm to 1am | AED 4 | AED 4.20 |
| Sunday | 6am to 1am | AED 4 | AED 4.20 |
| Every day | 1am to 6am | Free | Free |
Salik notes that the Sunday rate does not apply on public holidays and during public events, when separate arrangements can be announced. For the full list of gates and any new ones, see our Salik gates in Dubai tracker.
What changed with VAT
In a statement on 22 May 2026, Salik confirmed that it would start charging VAT at 5% from 1 June 2026 on toll gate usage and tag activation fees, under the UAE VAT law. The tax is passed on to the Federal Tax Authority.
In practice, that means an extra 30 fils on every peak crossing and an extra 20 fils on every off peak crossing. It is small per trip, but it adds up for anyone who crosses several gates every working day. For what changed on paid parking from the same date, read our story on Dubai parking fees and VAT.
Salik timings during Ramadan
Salik publishes a separate timetable for Ramadan. The prices are the same, but the peak and free windows shift.
| Day | Time during Ramadan | Toll with 5% VAT |
|---|---|---|
| Monday to Saturday | 9am to 5pm (peak) | AED 6.30 |
| Monday to Saturday | 7am to 9am and 5pm to 2am | AED 4.20 |
| Sunday | 7am to 2am | AED 4.20 |
| Every day | 2am to 7am | Free |
Salik tag price, top ups and fines
Salik’s own FAQs set out the tag price and what happens if you run out of balance or drive without a tag.
| Item | What it costs or what happens |
|---|---|
| Salik tag | AED 102.50 including VAT (AED 52.50 for the tag plus AED 50 of toll credit) |
| Salik tag ordered online | AED 122.50 including VAT, with AED 20 for delivery |
| Minimum top up | AED 50 per transaction |
| Low balance at a gate | 5 working days from the trip to top up, then AED 50 a day per vehicle on days with trips |
| No tag fitted | 10 working days from the first trip to buy and fix a tag, then AED 100, AED 200 and AED 400 for later trips, with no more than one fine per vehicle per day |
What it means for a monthly commute
Here is a simple example using Salik’s published rates, based on 22 working days a month. Your own total depends on which gates and times you use.
| Daily pattern | Crossings a month | Before VAT | With 5% VAT |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 peak crossings a day | 44 | AED 264 | AED 277.20 |
| 4 peak crossings a day | 88 | AED 528 | AED 554.40 |
| 2 off peak crossings a day | 44 | AED 176 | AED 184.80 |
To work out the toll and parking cost of a specific trip, try our Salik and parking calculator.
Practical tips to keep your Salik bill down
- Shift flexible trips into the 10am to 4pm window on weekdays, when each crossing is AED 4.20 instead of AED 6.30.
- Remember that Al Safa North and Al Safa South, and Al Mamzar North and Al Mamzar South, are charged once if you pass both within an hour.
- Set up an automatic top up through your bank, if it offers one, so a low balance never turns into AED 50 daily fines.
- If you sell your car, remove the old tag and take the vehicle off your Salik account straight away, or the new owner’s trips may be charged to you.
- Check your account in the Salik app or website for unpaid trips; a countdown shows how long you have before they become violations.
FAQs
Has Salik increased in Dubai?
The base Salik rates have not changed: AED 6 at peak times and AED 4 off peak. Since 1 June 2026, Salik adds 5% VAT to every toll and to tag activation fees, so a crossing now costs AED 6.30 at peak and AED 4.20 off peak.
What are the Salik peak hours in Dubai?
Peak hours are 6am to 10am and 4pm to 8pm, Monday to Saturday, when each crossing costs AED 6 plus VAT. Sunday has no peak rate, so it is AED 4 plus VAT from 6am to 1am.
Is Salik free at night?
Yes. Salik is free at every gate from 1am to 6am, every day of the week. During Ramadan the free window moves to 2am to 7am.
How much does a Salik tag cost now?
A Salik tag costs AED 102.50 including VAT, which covers AED 52.50 for the tag and AED 50 of toll credit added to your account. If you order it online, AED 20 delivery is added, making AED 122.50.
Do I pay twice at Al Safa North and Al Safa South?
No. If you pass Al Safa North and Al Safa South within one hour, in one direction or the other, Salik charges you once, at the rate of the first gate. The same applies to Al Mamzar North and Al Mamzar South, but other gates such as the Airport Tunnel are charged separately.
More for drivers: UAE Driving Guide
