What is Salik and how to activate it?
The Salik system is used by the Road & Transport Authority in Dubai to enhance the traffic flow in the city. If you buy a car in Dubai, a Salik tag is one of the first things you have to get.
You have to paste it on your vehicle’s windscreen to drive through the six toll gates within Dubai. These include the Airport Tunnel, Al Maktoum Bridge, Al Safa, Al Barsha, Al Mamzer, and Al Garhoud Bridge.
Whenever you pass through any of these toll gates, your account will be debited with the AED 4 fee. This means that your Salik account must have enough funds for the transactions.
Options to Get a Salik Tag
A Salik tag costs AED 100 and out of this, you will get AED 50 top up on your account. The first step to get this tag is to fill out a registration form. You have to submit the form with a copy of your vehicle registration.
It should be noted that multiple locations have been earmarked by RTA to enable easy access for motorists. Here are the three options to explore when getting your Salik tags.
Banks: You can buy the tag at any Emirates NBD Bank and Dubai Islamic Bank branches.
RTA Customer Service Centers: You can check the RTA website to find a list of centers that are closest to you.
Petrol Stations: ADNOC, EPPCO/ENOC, and Emarat petrol stations also offer the tags for sale.
As mentioned above, you need to first submit an application and as soon as you complete this process, you will get a Salik toolkit. With this, you can install the tag and begin to travel through different toll gates.
Duration to activate Salik
It takes a few days to activate your Salik tag but this does not stop you from using the toll gates. As soon as activation takes place, your account will be debited with all the accumulated toll fees. You should contact RTA if you have not received an SMS confirmation for your activation within ten days.
How to Pay For Your Salik Tag?
It is critical to top up your Salik account regularly to avoid getting fined. If you pass through a toll gate within five days of having insufficient funds, you will be charged with a fine of AED 50. You may use a smart Salik balance check online to see the funds in your account. Here are ways you can pay for a tag.
Recharge Vouchers and Cards: You can use Salik recharge online to pay for the tag. The vouchers are also available at supermarkets, grocery stores, and petrol pumps.
When you buy the recharge card, log in to your account online and enter the 12-digit number on the card. You can also send an SMS to 5959 or call 800-72545.
Kiosks and Banks: Many Salik kiosks and banks also offer recharge services for your Salik tag. You can find the list of kiosks on their official website.
Salik App: The RTA also has an app that makes recharge easy. You can download the app from the play store.
Conclusion
Driving through a Salik-enabled toll gate with insufficient funds or without a Salik tag will attract a fine, which can accumulate to as much as AED 400 per day. The good news is that you can choose Salik recharge online to top up your account easily. You can also check out some tips to avoid Salik while driving in Dubai.
